Chandigarh, May 2 -- Parents and guardians of mentally ill and intellectually disabled individuals staged a peaceful protest outside Punjab Raj Bhawan on Thursday, opposing the financial burden and stringent terms tied to admission into the Sector-31 Group Home for persons with disabilities.

Around 40 protesters, including applicants and their family members, held posters and participated in a candlelight march, urging UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to intervene.

They expressed concerns over recent notices issued by the social welfare department which they claim place undue pressure on families to accept harsh financial conditions without legal recourse. The department's communication reportedly mandates that parents or guardians ...