STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice (A) Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice Sanjeev Kumar on Monday took on record the statement filed by the Director Social Welfare Department (SWD), Jammu, pursuant to order of this court stating that SWD has already commenced the process of construction of a separate home for the old aged persons and also for boys and girls, and the construction is going on at good pace. Director Social Welfare Department, Jammu was present in the Court along with Eshaini, SLO.
The court recorded aforesaid statement with regard to Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Viklang Chattra Trust seeking better care of old age home.
DB also considered another issue raised in the PIL that the benefits should be extended to the Old Aged Persons by way of pension, benefits to widow/divorcee, disabled persons, etc as social welfare measures as per schemes and there is a long list of people, waiting for those benefits as some of them fall below poverty line.
The DB also asked Director SWD, Jammu to be present in the Court and assist the Court in addressing the needs of the eligible persons in relation to the Social Welfare measures especially to those hailing from far off places falling in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions.
DB also directed Director SWD Jammu to submit a list of schemes along with pending list of eligible beneficiaries to be collected through the District Social Welfare Officers.
DB further directed Director Social Welfare Department, Kashmir shall also collect the details and submit before this Court on the next date of hearing so that appropriate orders can be passed for that province as well. DB also added Commissioner/Secretary as party respondent and issued notice to him.