State Can’t Shirk Duty To Vulnerable, MP High Court Orders Medical Unit At Ujjain Ashram

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the state government to create an on-site nursing care unit and secure consistent medical staffing at Ujjain’s Sewadham Ashram. This directive comes after the court heard a suo motu public interest litigation regarding the conditions at the shelter, which houses over 1,000 disabled and mentally challenged individuals who receive no government funding.

While recognizing the ashram’s charitable work, the court noted that those residents needing continuous medical attention cannot rely solely on private charity. The bench expressed concern that the Ujjain chief medical and health officer had previously requested Rs 8 lakh for essential medicines and supplies, but the request was stalled due to administrative hurdles and a lack of designated medical personnel.

Although the facility is designated as a Vridha Ashram (old-age home), not a medical center, the court directed the state to make an exception for the residents’ medical needs and submit a concrete action plan within two weeks to appoint at least one dedicated doctor and set up a fully functional nursing care unit on the premises. The matter will be revisited for further compliance on October 21.