In a significant legal move, Mohali Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi has issued contempt-of-court notices to both the Punjab and Haryana state governments for their consistent failure to establish government-run old-age homes in every district as mandated by court orders.
Legal Action Over Unfulfilled Promises
The contempt notice comes through Bedi's legal representatives in connection with an ongoing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that originally demanded the construction of at least one government old-age home in each district across both states. The legal battle traces back to 2014 when the PIL was first filed, with the Punjab and Haryana High Court clearly stating that under the Senior Citizens Act of 2007, building these facilities is a mandatory responsibility of state governments.
During the proceedings, both states had made specific commitments to the court. The Punjab Government promised in 2019 that it would construct 21 old-age homes by 2022, while the Haryana Government, through a formal affidavit, assured the court that it would complete construction in all districts by 2024.
Broken Commitments and Delayed Progress
According to Deputy Mayor Bedi's notice, neither state government has honored these commitments made before the court. The notice alleges that both administrations have failed to act according to their promises and have not submitted the required progress reports to the judiciary.
Bedi specifically highlighted that while the Punjab Government issued a notification in 2021 inviting applications from NGOs to operate old-age homes, the fundamental responsibility of constructing these facilities rests solely with the state government under existing legislation. The notice clearly states that transferring this construction responsibility to NGOs constitutes a direct violation of court directions.
Mohali's Stalled Project and State-Wide Failures
The situation in Mohali district exemplifies the widespread delays. Approval was granted on September 29, 2023, to allocate 2.92 acres of land in Sector 78 free of cost specifically for an old-age home. The social security department formally accepted this proposal on November 8, 2023.
Despite these approvals, the land transfer has not been executed. The department issued reminders on December 10, 2024, and February 24, 2025, yet no progress has been made in transferring the land or beginning construction.
The notice reveals that across Punjab, only three districts—Hoshiarpur, Barnala, and Mansa—have seen any level of work initiated, while 22 districts have witnessed zero progress. Similarly, the Haryana Government has failed to submit any status report, even after missing its 2024 deadline completely.
Four-Week Ultimatum and Potential Consequences
The contempt notice gives both state governments and the Central Government a strict four-week deadline to submit compliance reports as per original court orders. The demands include immediately transferring the designated land in Mohali and commencing construction of old-age homes in every district without further delay.
The notice explicitly warns that failure to comply within the given timeframe will result in legal proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act of 1971, which could lead to serious consequences for the responsible officials and departments.
This legal action underscores the growing frustration with the implementation of welfare schemes for senior citizens, particularly the Senior Citizens Act of 2007, which was specifically designed to protect the rights and dignity of elderly citizens through proper infrastructure and support systems.
