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

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Supreme Court directed the Odisha State government to ensure that they receive all eligible social security benefits and basic amenities so that they can live a “dignified life”. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Supreme Court has come to the aid of an octogenarian woman and her visually impaired son from Bagadia village in Odisha’s Subarnapur district, taking suo motu cognisance of newspaper reports highlighting the dire conditions in which they were living. The court directed the State government to ensure that they receive all eligible social security benefits and basic amenities so that they can live a “dignified life”.

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

The Bench observed that its concern was not whether welfare schemes merely existed on paper, but whether the mother and son were actually able to avail the benefits to which they were entitled under various government programmes.

“We are, however, only concerned about the sustenance and dignified life of Japa Bhue, who has been blind since birth, and his 80-year-old mother, Smt. Radhika Bhue... The State of Odisha and its authorities are directed to ensure that all basic amenities are made available to Smt. Radhika Bhue and her son Japa Bhue till further orders,” the Bench said.

On Tuesday (June 16, 2026), advocate Mithu Jain, appearing for the Odisha government, informed the Bench that a dwelling unit had already been allotted to the octogenarian and her son. She further submitted that Ms. Bhue receives an old-age pension of ₹3,500 per month, while her son receives a disability pension of ₹3,500 per month. The family is also provided with free rice under a government welfare scheme.

The Bench, however, directed the State Legal Services Authority to submit a report verifying whether a dwelling unit had in fact been allotted to