By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday pulled up the state government for the plight of homeless people in the city.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw expressed shock over the government counsel’s submission that according to the new Master Plan 2021 there is provision for only 15,000 people to live in night shelters in the capital.
“This is such a bad approach. This is not expected from the government. How can you (government) be so insensitive towards homeless people?” the bench said.
The court was hearing a suo motu case based on a newspaper report highlighting the plight of people rendered homeless after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi demolished a structure on the Pusa Road on west Delhi.
Condemning the status report of the government that stated that if night shelters are opened in every locality, there would be protests from the residents, the court said, “It is a sad statement. The concept of night shelters is not a new thing. So, how can you (government) make such a statement?”
The court directed the Delhi Legal Services Authority’s secretary Asha Menon to visit all the night shelters and file a status report by Feb 17.
The court was also surprised when the NGOs working for the welfare of homeless in the city informed the bench that directions of the court were not abided.
The court said, “How can you (government) defy the court’s orders? We will pass directions in this regard.”