Ensure night shelter for Delhi’s homeless, court tells MCD
January 13th, 2010 - 7:22 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Slamming the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for being insensitive, the Delhi High Court Wednesday asked it to provide shelter to homeless people whose night refuge was demolished by the civic agency despite the chilling winter.
A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said, “We do not expect any modern civilised society to allow its people to die, whether it is Commonwealth Games or any other thing. This trend cannot be allowed.”
It was referring to a temporary night shelter that was removed by the MCD Dec 22 as part of its beautification drive for the Commonwealth Games later this year.
Not satisfied with the MCD counsel’s submission that they have 27 night shelters, apart from the 16 run by the Delhi government, the bench said, “The present accommodation is insufficient.”
It directed the MCD to make proper arrangements so that “at least 150 people can be accommodated at one night shelter”.
It took note of the fact that another man had died after the night shelter on west Delhi’s Pusa Road, where he stayed, was demolished by the MCD Dec 22. The court said, “It is the prime responsibility of the state to provide the homeless a shelter and we are reminding them of the same and it should be ensured that this will be followed in letter and spirit.”
The court directed the MCD to make sure that no eviction would take place until an alternative arrangement for the homeless was provided and file a detailed compliance report by Jan 19.
The court was hearing a suo motu case based on a newspaper report highlighting the plight of people rendered homeless after the MCD demolished the structure.
The MCD had submitted that strict action was taken as people had encroached upon land and did not vacate despite several warnings.
As the temperatures in the city dipped and biting cold set in, the move impacted the many homeless who used to take refuge in the shelter.
Delhi has 40 night shelters - 27 run by the MCD and 15 temporary structures run by the Delhi government - for roughly 100,000 homeless people.
- Court ticks off MCD for demolishing night shelter (Lead) - Jan 06, 2010
- Court to MCD: Give shelter to people of demolished night centre - Jan 07, 2010
- Court pulls up MCD for demolishing night shelter - Jan 06, 2010
- Court wants long-term plan for city's homeless - Jan 22, 2010
- Restart night shelters immediately: High court to Delhi government - Dec 13, 2011
- Don't beautify at cost of poor, court tells Delhi - Jan 19, 2010
- Delhi not to restore demolished night shelters - Dec 19, 2011
- Give permanent shelter to homeless near Jama Masjid: Court - Mar 09, 2011
- Occupants of demolished night shelter were informed: MCD - Dec 25, 2009
- Court asks government to publicise night shelters - Feb 17, 2010
- Court raps Delhi government on lack of night shelters - Feb 10, 2010
- Delhi's homeless prefer streets to night shelters - Jan 11, 2011
- Supreme Court restrains Delhi Govt. from demolishing night shelters - Dec 15, 2010
- Rehabilitate students of demolished school: Court (Lead) - Aug 17, 2011
- After court rap, Delhi scrambles to identify night shelters (Lead) - Jan 20, 2010
Tags: civilised society, commonwealth games, compliance report, delhi government, delhi high court, division bench, eviction, homeless people, jan 19, municipal corporation of delhi, municipal corporation of delhi mcd, newspaper report, plight, prime responsibility, pusa road, rajiv, sahai, strict action, suo motu, west delhi