Supreme Court directs states to report on elderly care infrastructure

The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant has directed state authorities to submit comprehensive status reports on the availability and quality of institutional care for senior citizens. The directive came during hearings on a public interest petition that has remained pending since 2016, highlighting systemic gaps in elderly welfare implementation across the country.

The petition, filed by Dr Ashwani Kumar, seeks enforcement of measures mandating old-age homes in every district, adequate pension schemes, and access to geriatric medical care. Appearing before the bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, Dr Kumar emphasized that the case had stalled despite affecting the rights and welfare of millions of elderly Indians.

The Chief Justice acknowledged that while the Supreme Court could establish overarching legal frameworks, enforcement responsibilities would be delegated to high courts across jurisdictions. This delegation strategy aims to accelerate ground-level compliance and address the persistent implementation gap that has characterized elderly care policy in India.

The directive represents a significant escalation in judicial oversight of senior citizen welfare, signaling the court's determination to move beyond issuing orders toward ensuring tangible improvements in care infrastructure and social security provisions for the nation's aging population.