By IANS
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday expressed concern over the condition of about 2,000 girls living on the streets of the capital, including former top model Gitanjali Nagpal, and said it would intervene for their welfare if the government failed to support them.
A bench headed by Chief Justice M.K. Sarma asked the state government for steps it has taken to rehabilitate such people. “Inform us about the steps taken by the state government to rehabilitate these people,” said the court.
Advocate Surat Singh informed the court that over 2,000 girls like Nagpal were spending their lives on the streets.
The court refuted the contention of the state government counsel that Nagpal was a drug addict, and said, “You (government) are wrong. Doctors said she was not a drug addict. We would like to look into the issue.”
However, the court did not issue notice to the authorities for the response.
Nagpal, 32, who once walked the ramp for top designers, was found by a photojournalist begging in a posh South Delhi market a few days back.
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) swung into action and took her to the VIMHANS Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her as suffering from fear psychosis.
Daughter of a navy officer, Nagpal graduated from the Lady Shri Ram College. She left home in 1990 and took to modelling fulltime. She married a German man, who with their son is now based in Germany.