Delhi High Court Issues Notice In Plea Seeking Directions To Safeguard Interest Of Children Orphaned Due To Covid Pandemic

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice in a plea seeking direction to Union of India, Government of NCT Delhi to safeguard the interest of the children who have lost their parents to Covid-19 and who do not have anyone else to take care of them and face the risk of being trafficked.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the Respondents i.e. Union Of India, Ministry Of Women & Child Development, Ministry Of Health & Family Welfare, Government Of NCT Of Delhi and Delhi Police. The notice is returnable on 4 June 2021.

The petition, moved by Jitender Gupta, practicing lawyer of Delhi prays that the Interim custody of such children be granted to their relatives or to child care homes while also exploring options for legal adoptions after duly scrutinizing all those who have expressed interest to adopt such children.

Further, the plea states that considering the urgency of the situation due to the complete collapse of health care infrastructure in national capital resulting in loss of hundreds of lives on a daily basis, the plea was being moved before the Delhi High Court to safeguard the security and the welfare of these children.

The plea avers that the respondents have failed to perform their statutory duty towards the protection of life and personal liberty of general public and that no action was taken to safeguard the interest of the children who have lost their parents to Covid-19.

Apart from this, the Petitioner has also sought financial compensation for the family members of those citizens who have lost their lives after being denied access to adequate health care in terms of hospital admission, oxygen cylinders, injections, medications, etc.

In another development, the same Bench today issued notice in a PIL seeking ex gratia payment to the kith and kin of judicial officers and members of the court staff in tune of Rs. 1 Crore and 50 Lakhs respectively who have lost their lives due to covid 19 virus. 

Earlier this month, the Bench had also issued notice in a public interest litigation seeking enactment of law or policies for the protection of rights of children on streets, for enacting law or policies to curb child begging and for making adequate arrangements of such children at child care institutes.