Who oversees rehabilitation centres for disabled children? The Supreme Court has asked the Union to find out, State by State, in a plea alleging weak oversight.
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Union government to collect State-wise data on how rehabilitation centres for children with disabilities are regulated and what standards they must meet, and to place it on record, in a petition alleging that such centres operate with little oversight [Rahul Bajaj and Another v. Union of India and Others].
The Court had issued notice on the petition in June 2026, on a Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana. The matter will be heard next on October 22.
What the Centre has to file
Working with the States and Union Territories, the Centre must file an affidavit-based report on how the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 are being implemented. The report is to cover the constitution and functioning of the statutory authorities, the notification of minimum standards for mental health establishments, and the inspection and monitoring protocols now in place.
What the petitioners say
According to the petitioners, these centres run with minimal regulation and no baseline standards, which they say bears on the right to life under Article 21. They add that many centres are not registered under Section 50 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, that the Mental Healthcare Act is implemented unevenly, and that unqualified persons practise as rehabilitation professionals. These are the petitioners’ allegations and have not been adjudicated by the Court.
What they want
The prayers ask for directions to States and Union Territories to notify rules, quality standards and professional registries under the Mental Healthcare Act, and to make registration of child rehabilitation facilities mandatory, with action against unregistered centres. They also seek certification of therapists under the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992, and a nationwide digital dashboard of facilities with annual audits. Advocate Rahul Bajaj appeared in the matter and flagged gaps in compliance.
Case Title: Rahul Bajaj and Another v. Union of India and Others (W.P.(C) No. 705/2026)
Court: Supreme Court of India
Date of Report: October 8, 2026; next hearing October 22, 2026
Appearance: Advocate Rahul Bajaj