Supreme Court steps in to ensure ‘dignified life’ for octogenarian, visually impaired son

The Supreme Court came to the aid of a woman in her eighties and her visually impaired son from Bagadia village in Odisha’s Subarnapur district. suo motu Taking into account newspaper reports highlighting the difficult conditions they live in. The court directed the State government to ensure that these persons receive all appropriate social security benefits and basic amenities so that they can live a “dignified life”.

Chief Justices of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana issued the directions in a statement. suo motu Case registered on Monday, June 15, 2026, regarding the welfare of persons with disabilities living in extreme poverty.

The bench observed that its concern was not whether welfare schemes existed only on paper but whether the mother and son would actually be eligible for the benefits to which they were entitled under various government schemes.

“However, we are only concerned with the livelihood and dignified life of Japa Bhue, who is blind since birth, and her 80-year-old mother, Smt. Radhika Bhue… The State of Odisha and its authorities are directed to provide all basic amenities to Smt. Radhika Bhue and her son Japa Bhue until further orders,” the Bench said.

On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, lawyer Mithu Jain, speaking on behalf of the Odisha government, informed the Bench that a residential unit had already been allotted to the octogenarian and his son. He further stated that Ms Bhue was getting old age pension of ₹3,500 per month while her son was getting disability pension of ₹3,500 per month. The family is also provided free rice under the government’s welfare scheme.

He wants a report

However, the Board directed the State Legal Services Authority to submit a report verifying whether a housing unit was actually allocated to mother and son. In case such relief is not granted, the court said the State government must ensure that social security provision is provided without delay.

To ascertain the living conditions of the family, the Board directed the concerned District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Secretary to visit and interact with them during the day. It also directed that if Ms. Bhue or her son required urgent medical assistance, DLSA should coordinate with the Chief Medical Officer concerned and make necessary arrangements.

The bench also directed the State government to engage Mr. Bhue as a non-legal volunteer, observing that this would provide him with a source of income and enable him to assist other disabled persons in accessing benefits offered under various Central and State government schemes.

“Upon such appointment, Japa Bhue will be paid an uninterrupted wage and the said wage shall not be less than the minimum wage notified by the State of Odisha under the Minimum Wages Act,” the bench said.

To make an affidavit

The court also directed the State government to prepare a separate affidavit containing details of social security benefits provided to the mother and son, sworn to by an officer not below the rank of Additional Chief Secretary. This is to indicate whether Ms. Bhue has been granted old age pension, the quantum of pension paid to her, the benefits provided to her under various government schemes and whether these benefits have been paid along with any delay.

The state was also asked to state whether his son received disability pension and other social benefits to which he was entitled, and whether all these benefits were duly paid.

The court remanded the matter for hearing on July 13, 2026, to review compliance with its directions.

Media reports highlighted that the mother and son were living in dire poverty in a dilapidated house, despite being eligible to benefit from various social assistance programs. Their situation reportedly worsened after the death of the family’s sole breadwinner, leaving them dependent on neighbors for basic income.