The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered notice to the Centre and the State on the public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to the Centre to establish National Centre for Ageing in all districts in Tamil Nadu.
A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete observed that it was the duty of the State to protect the life of senior citizens.
The senior citizens who are in vulnerable conditions are being targeted. Adequate implementation of schemes to protect the senior citizens is required and is the Constitutional obligation of the State.
In order to evolve a procedure, the Centre and the State should respond, the court observed.
The court suo motu impleaded the Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Department. The court sought response from the Centre and the State and adjourned the hearing in the case by two weeks.
The court was hearing the petition filed by K.K. Ramesh of Madurai. The petitioner said parents were being ignored by their own children. The elderly were being disrespected. The number of old age homes had increased.
There are complaints that some old age homes charge high fees and do not take care of the elderly. This is causing difficulties to the elderly. Some old age homes do not provide basic facilities, food, medicine, etc, he said.
The petitioner sought a direction to the Centre to establish National Centre for Ageing in all districts in the State.
Published – June 10, 2025 10:03 pm IST