In Brief
This public interest litigation addressed the plight of destitute and abandoned widows living in Vrindavan and other ashrams across India. The Court held that the State has a constitutional duty to rehabilitate these socially disadvantaged women and ensure they live with dignity. The Court recognized that superior courts must entertain genuine petitions by social groups and NGOs advocating for fundamental rights of the marginalized and deprived. The Court constituted a Committee to consolidate multiple reports and devise a comprehensive working plan for widow rehabilitation, covering shelter, pension, medical care, legal aid, vocational training, and family counseling—affirming public interest litigation as an essential instrument for social justice.
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