The Supreme Court on Monday granted another four weeks time to States that have not yet filed affidavits on a plea seeking directions to provide masks and sanitisers to the elderly amid the pandemic, to file their responses. A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, had, on August 4 directed that all eligible old age persons be regularly paid pension and that States provide them necessary medicines, masks, sanitisers and other essential goods.

The Bench was hearing a plea filed by former Union Minister and senior advocate Ashwani Kumar who has sought directions with regard to the elderly, saying they need more care and protection during the pandemic. Mr. Kumar told the Bench that only some States, including Odisha and Punjab, had responded to the petition so far.

The Supreme Court on Monday granted another four weeks time to States that have not yet filed affidavits on a plea seeking directions to provide masks and sanitisers to the elderly amid the pandemic, to file their responses. A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, had, on August 4 directed that all eligible old age persons be regularly paid pension and that States provide them necessary medicines, masks, sanitisers and other essential goods.

The Bench was hearing a plea filed by former Union Minister and senior advocate Ashwani Kumar who has sought directions with regard to the elderly, saying they need more care and protection during the pandemic. Mr. Kumar told the Bench that only some States, including Odisha and Punjab, had responded to the petition so far.