Srinagar March 05:The High Court on Thursday directed the J&K administration to file a status report regarding construction of old age homes, orphanages and shelter facilities for women and persons in difficulties.
Passing directions on a public interest litigation by Viklang Chhatra Trust, a division bench directed the J&K authorities to file a status report regarding construction of old age homes, orphanages, shelter facilities for women and persons in difficulties.
The bench also directed the authorities to file the position on shelter homes for differently abled persons in the union territory.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal further directed that the status of the beneficiaries under the related schemes and pendency of the applications shall be placed before the court by 22nd April next month.
The public interest litigation initially made a grievance of insufficiency of old age homes in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sunil Sethi, counsel for the petitioners pleaded before the court that the matter regarding availability of homes for differently abled and insufficient orphanages be also considered in the petition.
He said an important area which has remained completely unaddressed is the lack of shelter homes for women and persons in difficulty in the union territory.
The counsel said that there is no place for sheltering or housing women or persons who are rescued from difficult situations and extreme difficulties.
The court observed that that certain status reports by the administration show release of funds for the purpose of construction of old age homes.
It said that the government has National Assistance Programme including Indira Gandhi Widow Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Scheme and Integrated Social Security Scheme.
It referred to the official status report filed before it on 17th August, 2019 where in the respondents have enumerated the number of applications for grant of benefits under the schemes.
The court observed that the benefits under the schemes are still pending consideration.
