HC seeks Himachal's reply on plight of physically challenged

The Himachal Pradesh High Court today sought response of the state government over the plight of physically challenged persons allegedly dumped in an old-age home in Basantpur here.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice PS Rana issued notice to Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Social Justice and Empowerment), Principal Secretary (Health), Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Director of Welfare and some others and sought their response.
The court fixed February 25 as the next date of hearing.
The High Court had turned a letter into an PIL which was written to the Chief Justice by Ajai Srivastava, Chairman Umang Foundation, an NGO fighting for rights of the disabled.

The letter said that despite the fact that the physically challenged persons were not old they were dumped in the old-age home.
The applicant said that four out of 17 inmates of the old-age home, Basantpur, are "severely disabled" but not old.

"All of them are in the age group of 40 to 50 years but have been dumped in the old-age home in Basantpur of Shimla," the applicant said.
He also claimed that neither they are getting disability pension nor the government was providing them with compensation given to the people living in old-age homes.
The applicant sought that all the disabled persons living in the shelter for old people should be given disability pension and separate rehabilitation homes be provided for them as well as mentally challenged inmates, as old age home is not a fit place for them.