Thenmala Punarjani shelter home case: Kerala HC expresses concern over unregistered elderly care institutions

Kerala High Court has expressed concern over many unregistered elderly care institutions operating in Kerala without registration and hence “beyond the reach of law.”

Justices Devan Ramachandran and Basant Balaji raised the issue on Friday while considering a petition registered after reports of alleged ill-treatment of residents at a shelter home, Punarjani in Thenmala, surfaced.

The court also considered reports on an autistic child being allegedly beaten to death in Kodungallur.

The petition was voluntarily taken up by the High Court on the information received from the Amicus Curiae who is appointed to monitor matters regarding mental health in the State.

Investigations revealed that the institution in Thenmala was allegedly operating without registration or license, and unsupervised by authorities.

The court expressed apprehension about the circumstances in which such incidents were allowed when there were measures in place for the benefit of the old, infirm and vulnerable.

“What we require is not action after the incident, but a prevention of such in the future,” the bench noted.

Further, the court said it would speak for the mothers, fathers and children, who are entitled to the “greatest protection under the Constitutional Scheme,” and that any deficiency in the same would certainly attract “the highest penalties”.

The court will consider the matter further on June 23.