The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a stern stance against the state governments of Punjab and Haryana for their prolonged failure to establish government-run old age homes in every district. The court has issued formal notices in a contempt petition, directing top officials to explain the delays and submit updated status reports.
Court Issues Notice in Contempt Petition
Justice Vikram Aggarwal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court heard the contempt petition, which names the chief secretaries of both states, the heads of their social security departments, and officials from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) as respondents. The counsel representing Punjab, Haryana, and GMADA accepted the court's notice. The judge has scheduled the next hearing for February 10, 2026, giving the authorities time to file their detailed responses.
The petition was filed by Kuljit Singh Bedi, the Deputy Mayor of Mohali Municipal Corporation. He has accused the authorities of wilful non-compliance with court assurances and legal mandates regarding the welfare of senior citizens.
Broken Promises and Missed Deadlines
The case originates from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by Bedi back in 2014. The PIL sought enforcement of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. This central law explicitly requires every state to set up at least one old age home in each district, with a minimum capacity for 150 indigent senior citizens.
In response to the court's earlier proceedings, Punjab assured in 2019 that it would construct 21 government-run homes, one for each district, by 2022. Similarly, Haryana submitted an affidavit promising completion by 2024. Trusting these commitments, the original petition was disposed of in 2020.
Ground Reality: A Story of Non-Compliance
According to the fresh contempt plea, both states have largely failed to honour their promises. In Punjab, significant progress is visible only in a few districts like Hoshiarpur, Barnala, and Mansa. For other districts, the state has reportedly relied on providing grants to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Bedi argues that this violates the law's mandate for state-run facilities.
A specific example of delay is in Mohali (SAS Nagar) district. Although GMADA allocated 2.92 acres of land free of cost in 2023 for constructing an old age home, the formal transfer of this land remains incomplete despite repeated reminders.
The situation in Haryana is equally concerning. The state has missed its 2024 deadline. Recent reports indicate that Haryana currently has only one operational government old age home, with construction projects in most other districts facing significant delays.
The court's intervention highlights a critical gap in social infrastructure for the elderly in both Punjab and Haryana. The repeated missed deadlines and reliance on NGOs instead of building state capacity raise serious questions about the implementation of welfare laws. The upcoming hearing in February 2026 will be crucial in determining whether the states can present a concrete and actionable plan to finally fulfil this long-pending legal and moral obligation to their senior citizens.
