Telangana High Court Issues Notice To State In Plea For Establishment Of At Least One Old Age Home In Each District

The Telangana High Court has taken up a Public Interest Litigation for the construction of at least one old age home in a district.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti admitted the PIL based on a letter addressed to the Court and issued notice to the State.

The letter stated that as per Section 19 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens, Act, 2007, the State Government is required to establish at least one old age home per district that can accommodate up to 150 indigent senior citizens.

The letter further stated that the existing old age homes are in a dilapidated condition and are unable to provide basic amenities and the failure to manage or establish old age homes is against the fundamental rights under Article 19 and 21 as enshrined in the Constitution.

The letter criticized the State and stated that due to the lethargy on the part of the State to set up old age homes, many senior citizens are forced to live on the street or in squalid conditions.

"According to Press Information Bureau report dated 2nd August 2022 the number of old age homes in Telangana is just 19 in number which is insufficient to accommodate the increasing old age orphans according to United Nations Population Fund Report 2023 India's elderly population is predicted to double by 2050 and overtake the number of children in the country the number of people aged 60 and above will increase from 149 million in 2022 to 347 million in 2050." the letter emphasized.

TUWP(PIL) 19 of 2023

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