Case Overview :-
The Supreme Court of India issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that highlights severe regulatory failures and alleges inhuman treatment of children with disabilities in rehabilitation centres across the country.
• Key Case Details :-
• Case Title: Rahul Bajaj v. Union of India & Ors.
• Bench: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana
• Hearing Date: June 16, 2026
• Primary Legal Frameworks: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), Disability Rights India, and Rehabilitation Policy.
• Core Issues and Findings:-
In this case some of the vulnerable issues –
(i) Inhuman Treatment and Negligence: The PIL brings forward serious concerns regarding the subpar conditions inside rehabilitation centres across India. It alleges that children with disabilities face institutional neglect and cruel, inhuman treatment.
(ii) Regulatory Failures: The petition focuses on the significant implementation gaps and deficiencies within the existing legal frameworks meant to govern these facilities.
(iii) Oversight Deficiencies: A major grievance raised is the lack of proper oversight mechanisms and strict enforcement of rules regarding the rehabilitation and regulation of mental health professionals who specifically work with children with disabilities.
•Judicial Response:-
Acknowledging the critical nature of the matter, the Bench led by CJI Surya Kant explicitly agreed to prioritise this litigation. By issuing a formal notice to the government and relevant parties, the Supreme Court has set a path toward examining systemic accountability and forcing structural enforcement of disability rights laws to safeguard children in care and rehabilitation facilities.