HC closes case on shelters, authorities to carry it forward

The Delhi High Court has “closed the hearing” of the cases related to providing night shelters to homeless people, saying the authorities, including DUSIB, have been “motivated into action” and will now carry forward the exercise which it has been monitoring for the last five years.

“We trust and have faith that the authorities concerned particularly Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board have been motivated into action and will now carry forward the exercise and the efforts which we have been monitoring for the last five years,” a Bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said. “We, therefore, deem it appropriate to close writ petition (Civil) No.29/2010,” the Bench added. The high court was hearing a case it took up on its own in 2010 after media reports highlighted death of a homeless person on the streets of Delhi owing to the extreme winter cold and lack of night shelters in spite of a provision for it under the Master Plan for Delhi-2021. The court said: “Though we cannot say that the issues of public interest stand fully addressed but considerable progress has been made.

“We have in each winter season endeavoured to provide shelter to as many homeless as possible including by providing temporary shelters. Certain steps have also been taken for having permanent night shelters in accordance with the provisions therefor in Master Plan for Delhi-2021...” The court, meanwhile, turned down a mother’s plea seeking a direction to the city government to compensate her for the death of her two-month-old daughter due to inadequate living conditions in a shelter home.