Why Aren’t Steps Being Taken To Provide Shelter To All The Homeless In Delhi? HC Asks Govt. [Read Order]

The High Court of Delhi on Sunday directed the Delhi Government to inform it as to why steps were not being taken “to ensure that adequate shelters are provided to all the homeless in Delhi”.

The Court took note of an article titled “Home razed, they are back on streets” published in The Times of India, which suggested that a demolition of a night shelter in Amir Khursro Park in Delhi’s Nizamuddin Area, which had been conducted pursuant to a Court order, had rendered over a hundred people shelter less. The article had shown a picture of a man and an infant child sleeping in the open, to assert the claim.

The Court was, however, informed that the night shelter in question was being used for women and children, who were later accommodated in another night shelter near Nizamuddin Dargah which had extra space. Noting that the article was misleading, the Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Pratibha M. Singh therefore observed, “This picture does not relate to inmates of the night shelter for the obvious reason that the night shelter in question was being used for women and children. It is pointed out that therefore, the picture of sleeping man is deliberate act to mislead the public and create a wrong impression against the court and the statutory authorities.”

The Court thereafter appointed Mr. Lorren Bamniyal, Registrar (Appellate) as the amicus curiae in the matter, and also directed the Local commissioner to visit the spot with the counsel for the parties and submit a report with photographs of the shelter home where the occupants have been accommodated and the facilities available to them. The matter will now be heard on 22 May.

Read the Order here.