Rs 20L security for admission to Group Home challenged in High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the UT Administration on a petition challenging the Rs 20 lakh security deposit condition for admission to the newly established Group Home in Sector 31 here.

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In a civil writ petition, which came up before Justice Kuldeep Tiwari on April 8, Satish Kumar, GK Jaggi, BK Chadha, and Barkhu Ram — all residents of Chandigarh and guardians of prospective applicants with mental disabilities, sought quashing of the Rs 20 lakh deposit condition imposed in the admission form for the Group Home, which is managed by the Utthaan society. They also sought a direction to reduce the amount to one year’s fee, based on the room type.

The court was informed that a similar matter was already pending before the Division Bench in CWP-PIL-211-2024. Accordingly, the writ petition has been ordered to be listed along with that PIL on April 22.

Additionally, the petitioners prayed that 25% of twin-sharing seats be reserved for EWS applicants and that a 50% concession in the security deposit be extended to such applicants.

The petitioners have also asked for the simplification of the admission process by conducting applicant assessments within the Group Home itself. Several other issues, including the need to recruit qualified staff like social workers and counsellors trained to support mentally disabled individuals, were flagged in the petition.

Senior advocate RS Bains, along with advocates MS Chauhan and Aarushi Garg appeared for the petitioners while Shubreet Kaur appeared for the UT Administration.