The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Odisha government to ensure all basic amenities for an octogenarian woman and her visually impaired son living in poverty in Subarnapur district.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana issued the order after taking suo motu cognisance of news reports about the conditions faced by 80-year-old Radhika Bhue and her son Japa Bhue in Bagadia village.
The court directed the state to provide all basic amenities until further orders and asked for a compliance report. It also ordered that Japa Bhue be engaged as a paid para-legal volunteer with honorarium not less than the state minimum wage.
State counsel informed the bench that the mother had been allotted a house and both were receiving monthly pensions of Rs 3,500 along with free rice. The matter was posted for hearing on July 13, 2026.