The Karnataka High Court has on Wednesday [August 19] taken on record the State Government's submission that the Karnataka State Law Commission's 73rd Report on amendments to the Senior Citizens Rules is under active consideration.

The single-judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj noted that a letter dated July 31, 2026, from the Member Secretary of the Karnataka Law Commission had been received by the Registrar (Judicial) and it has been placed on record.

“…Along with said letter, Karnataka State Policy for Senior Citizens as also the 73^rd Law Commission Report suggesting amendments to the Karnataka Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2009 has been enclosed. Learned AGA submits that the said report is under active consideration and the same will be considered along with the order passed by this court on 22.07.2026”.

When the court asked whether the state would be considering the Law Commission Recommendations, the AGA answered in the affirmative.

The AGA sought four weeks' time to make further submissions on the Law Commission report and the proposed policy framework, which was granted by the court.

During the hearing, petitioner's counsel informed the Court that he will be taking care of his mother's medical expenses further.

“…In so far as present petition is concerned, the senior citizen was admitted in government hospital, and underwent treatment at the cost of state as per the direction issued by this court. Subsequent there to, it is submitted that petitioner has voluntarily expressed his interest to bear the cost of medical treatment and got her discharged from government hospital, and admitted her in…. hospital, Mysore[Private Hospital]. It has been submitted that the treatment for bed sores and gangrene has been provided, and the senior citizen mother is proposed to be discharged in three days' time. The entire expense in relation to hospitalisation will be borne by the petitioner, and the petitioner will continue to bear all medical expenses with regard to treatment of his mother”, the court noted in the order about the petitioner-son's submissions.

The matter has been posted for further consideration on specific case's merits on August 27, 2026.

The single judge bench was hearing a writ petition pertaining to the medical emergency of an elderly woman who is a widow, suffering from gangrene on her right foot, and other medical ailments.

To recap, the writ petition was filed by the son of the respondent, challenging orders passed by the Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru, in proceedings under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

The petitioner sought to quash the order passed by the Assistant Commissioner dated March 4, 2020, and amended order dated February 2, 2021, which was confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner's order dated November 3, 2023.

For further context, emphasising that elderly care is a non-negotiable, the Karnataka High Court had earlier directed the State Government to examine the feasibility of evolving a comprehensive statutory framework for identifying and protecting 'Senior Citizens in Need of Care and Protection', akin to the protection available for Juveniles under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The state was asked to report on the existing statutory provisions, schemes and institutional mechanisms for senior citizens, deficiencies in the existing framework, additional measures proposed to be undertaken to bridge that gap, authorities and departments that would be responsible for the implementation of said rectifications and timelines for the same, along with whether the state would promulgate a comprehensive policy/legislation for elderly 'in need of care and protection'.

The Registrar (Judicial) was directed by the court to forward a copy of the order to the Chairperson, Karnataka Law Commission, to take necessary action by the next date of hearing.

On the merits of the instant case, in July, the court was informed by the state earlier that the petitioner-son and the widow's daughter had been allegedly neglecting her medical requirements. Moreover, even the Hospital had discharged the widow citing that no additional treatment would improve her condition.

The court had then directed the government to immediately admit the 4^th Respondent- Widow to a government hospital at Mysuru so that she can avail all medical treatments such as geriatric care, surgical intervention, medicines, diagnostic investigations, and rehabilitation.

Case Title: Praveen Kumar M v. State of Karnataka & Ors

Case No: WP 4825/2024