Department of Social Justice (Kerala)

The Social Justice Department is an administrative department of the Government of Kerala. The department is responsible for formulating and implementing policies aimed at the welfare of socially disadvantaged and marginalised sections, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, transgender persons, and other vulnerable groups. ^[1]

The department functions as the nodal agency for the implementation of various social welfare legislations, schemes and missions, and coordinates with line departments and field agencies to ensure effective service delivery. The department’s headquarters is located in Thiruvananthapuram. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Social Justice Department

Department overview
Jurisdiction	India, Kerala
Headquarters	Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram
Minister responsible	R. Bindu, Minister for Social Justice
Department executives	Dr. Adeela Abdulla IAS [6] , Special Secretary to Government Dr. Mithun Premraj IAS, Director of Social Justice
Parent department	Government of Kerala
Child Department	Directorate of Social Justice
Website	sjd.kerala.gov.in

Ministerial team

The department is headed by a Cabinet Minister of the Government of Kerala, and the incumbent Minister for Social Justice is R. Bindu. ^[7]

The administrative head of the department is the Special Secretary to Government, an IAS officer. The current Special Secretary is Dr. Adeela Abdulla IAS. ^[8]

The Directorate of Social Justice is headed by the Director of Social Justice, and the incumbent Director is Dr. Mithun Premraj IAS. ^[9]

Functions

• Administration and enforcement of social welfare laws and rules in the state ^[10]
• Formulation and implementation of policies and schemes for the welfare of socially disadvantaged sections
• Implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes related to social justice, disability welfare, senior citizens and rehabilitation
• Social security and support to transgender persons, destitute, elderly persons, and differently abled individuals
• Rehabilitation, protection, and social reintegration initiatives through field institutions and missions

Line department

Directorate of Social Justice

The Directorate of Social Justice functions as the primary executive arm of the Social Justice Department. ^[11] It serves as the nodal implementing agency for all social welfare programmes of the State Government as well as Centrally Sponsored Schemes. ^[12]

The Directorate is headed by a Director of Social Justice, an IAS cadre officer, who is assisted by Additional Directors, Joint Directors and Assistant Directors at the state level. For field-level administration, District Social Justice Offices function in all 14 revenue districts of Kerala, each headed by a District Social Justice Officer. ^[13]

The Directorate oversees numerous welfare and rehabilitation institutions across Kerala, including:

• Asha Bhavans
• Homes for physically challenged persons
• Care homes and day-care centres
• Old-age homes and full-time dementia care centres
• Vocational Training Centres
• *Pratheeksha Bhavan* (special rehabilitation home)
• District Probation Offices

These institutions provide social protection, shelter, rehabilitation, and various support services for elderly persons, persons with disabilities, destitute individuals, and other vulnerable groups. ^[14]

Agencies / Institutions under the department

• Kerala State Disability Commission
• Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM)
• Kerala State Council for Child Welfare (schemes pertaining to social justice)
• Transgender Cell
• State Resource Centre for Disabilities
• Institutions for rehabilitation and social care (Govt. homes, welfare centres, etc.)

See also

• Department of Women and Child Development (Kerala)
• Department of Backward Communities Development (Kerala)
• Department of Minority Welfare (Kerala)
• Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Development Department (Kerala)

References

1. "Social Justice Department - Profile". sjd.kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
2. Bureau, The Hindu (2025-10-17). "New Social Justice department office complex inaugurated in Alappuzha". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-11-09.{{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
3. "Kerala govt sets up first Senior Citizens Commission in India". The Economic Times. 2025-09-03. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 2025-11-09.
4. Bureau, The Hindu (2025-09-28). "Vision 2031 for a developed and progressive Kerala". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2025-11-09.{{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
5. Vidyadharan, Sovi (2025-08-09). "Kerala launches landmark housing scheme for transgender community". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
6. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2025/Jan/30/kerala-government-reshuffles-ias-officers-assigns-new-roles
7. "Kerala Council of Ministers". Niyamasabha.nic.in. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
8. "Key Officials - Social Justice Department" . Retrieved 2025-11-08.
9. "Directorate of Social Justice" . Retrieved 2025-11-08.
10. "Rules of Business - Government of Kerala, Part II" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-11-08.
11. "Directorate of Social Justice" . Retrieved 2025-11-08.
12. "Directorate of Social Justice" . Retrieved 2025-11-08.
13. "District Offices - Social Justice Department" . Retrieved 2025-11-08.
14. "Institutions - Social Justice Department" . Retrieved 2025-11-08.