Thenmala Punarjani Shelter Case: Kerala HC Expresses Concern Over Unregistered Elder Care Institutions

The Kerala High Court has expressed concern over the many unregistered aged care institutions operating in Kerala without registration and thus “beyond the reach of the law”.

Justices Devan Ramachandran and Basant Balaji raised the issue on Friday while considering a petition registered after reports of alleged ill-treatment of residents of the Punarjani Shelter in Thenmala surfaced.

The court also considered reports of the alleged beating of an autistic child in Kodungallur.

The petition was voluntarily taken up by the High Court based on information received from the Amicus Curiae, which is mandated to monitor mental health matters in the state.

Investigation revealed that the institution in Thenmala was allegedly operating without registration or license and without supervision by the authorities.

The court expressed concern about the circumstances in which such incidents were allowed when measures were put in place to benefit the old, infirm and vulnerable.

“We are not demanding post-incident action but prevention of such incident in future,” the bench observed.

Further, the court said that it will speak for mothers, fathers and children who are entitled to the “greatest protection under the constitutional system” and that any shortfall in the same would certainly entail the “highest penalties”.

The court will consider the case further on June 23.

Published – 20 Jun 2026 23:20 IST