Gauhati High Court seeks response from four Northeast states over failure to set up mandated old-age homes for senior citizens
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DIMAPUR — The Gauhati High Court has sought a clear response from the governments of Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh over their failure to establish old-age homes as mandated under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
A division bench comprising Ashutosh Kumar and Arun Dev Choudhury issued the direction while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL/26/2026) filed by an advocate of the court.
The PIL alleged that the four NE states have not set up old-age homes in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Act, which mandates every state government to establish and maintain such facilities for senior citizens.
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The court observed that the provision places a compulsory obligation on states to begin by setting up at least one old-age home in each district at accessible locations, with a minimum capacity of 150 indigent senior citizens.
It further reminded that additional homes may be established based on need, but the minimum requirement must be fulfilled in a phased manner.
Issuing notices to the four states, the bench stated that information regarding the absence of such facilities was obtained through RTI responses.