'No Progress': Sikkim High Court Expresses Displeasure At Steps Taken By Govt For Construction Of Old Age Homes

Observing that it is the duty of the State Government to produce relevant policies made for the benefit of senior citizens based on Centre's directions, the Sikkim High Court on Friday sought response of the State on its policies as regards to the construction of old age homes.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari and Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai ordered thus:

"…looking to the scope of this Public Interest Litigation, it is the duty of the State Government to produce the relevant policies of the State Government with the directives of the Central Government for the benefit of the Senior Citizens of their State. The relevant material is not available."

Furthermore, it said:

"At this stage, we further observe that the Assistant Solicitor General be noticed by the Registry for production of the policies of the Central Government for the benefit of the Senior Citizens as regarding the construction of the old age homes by the Center and the State."

The development comes in a suo moto PIL regarding construction of old age homes in the State. A report was filed by the State Government dated 3rd April 2021, stating the difficulties regarding pipelines for which supplementary budged had been sought for.

Being unsatisfied by the report, the Court said thus:

"The Court is not satisfied by the such progress, in particular, when the sanction of the old age homes of the year 2017-18 and now it is in the mid of 2021. At the time of sanction all the difficulties ought to be examined by the State Authorities, therefore, the stand as taken do not satisfy the requirement of progress in the matter of construction of old age homes at Mangan."

The Court also observed that despite the lapse of 8 months, the progress of construction of such old age homes were at a standstill for want of funds.

"So it cannot be treated as a progress in the matter but in fact it is a position as exist," the Court said.

Seeking response of the State Government, the Court listed the matter for further hearing on August 9.

Title: In Re Establishment of Old Age Homes in all Districts of Sikkim

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