Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Seeks State-Wise Data on Disability Rehabilitation Centres
The Supreme Court is asking the government to find out how states supervise centres that help children with disabilities.
The Centre must ask every state and Union Territory for information.
It must report whether the required authorities exist and whether centres are registered and inspected.
The court also wants details about standards for mental health establishments.
The people who brought the case say some centres may be operating without proper registration.
They also raised concerns about buildings, trained staff and the quality of programmes.
Their petition refers to a 2025 inspection in Srinagar.
The court will hear the matter again on October 22.
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to gather state-wise information on registration, regulation and monitoring of facilities serving children with disabilities.
The Centre must coordinate with states and Union Territories and file an affidavit detailing statutory authorities, minimum standards and inspection mechanisms.
The petitioners say rehabilitation institutions require registration under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and allege many operate without it.
Petitioner Rahul Bajaj told the court that only 10 states and Union Territories had notified minimum standards for mental health establishments.
The petition cites alleged gaps in staffing, infrastructure and oversight, including findings from a 2025 inspection of a child development centre in Srinagar; the next hearing is October 22.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Centre, and petitioners disability rights lawyer Rahul Bajaj and child rights activist Zaheer Abbas Jan.
- What
- The court ordered the Centre to collect and file state-wise information on regulation, registration and monitoring of facilities serving children with disabilities.
- When
- The direction was issued on Thursday; the next hearing is scheduled for October 22.
- Where
- The matter is before the Supreme Court of India and concerns states and Union Territories across India.
- Why
- The petition alleges shortcomings in implementing legal safeguards, including unregistered institutions and inadequate oversight.
Petitioners’ concerns
Government response sought
Registration and oversight
Petitioners’ concerns
The petitioners allege that many institutions are unregistered and that statutory safeguards and monitoring are not being effectively implemented.
Government response sought
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to collect state-wise information on registration, regulation and monitoring; the article does not report a government response to the allegations.
Standards and facility conditions
Petitioners’ concerns
The petitioners cite limited notification of minimum standards and concerns about infrastructure, qualified staff and programme implementation.
Government response sought
The Centre has been asked to provide information on standards and inspection mechanisms; no substantive government position is reported.
- Court direction
- The Centre must coordinate with states and Union Territories and file an affidavit with the requested information.
- Information sought
- Details on statutory authorities, minimum standards for mental health establishments, and inspection and monitoring mechanisms.
- Laws cited
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016; Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992; and Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
- Registration provision
- The petitioners say Section 50 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act requires relevant institutions to obtain registration.
- Standards claim
- Rahul Bajaj submitted that only 10 states and Union Territories had notified minimum standards for mental health establishments.
- Inspection cited
- The petition refers to a 2025 surprise inspection by the Child Welfare Committee, Srinagar, at a child development centre.
- Next hearing
- October 22