Visit night shelter sites: Delhi HC to government

The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed the city government and an NGO to visit the places where night shelters are proposed to be set up and submit a report.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw asked the director of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to visit the places proposed by NGO Shahri Adhikar Manch Begharon Ke Liye for putting up more night shelters.

"This court directs both the parties - director of DUSIB or his nominee along with (NGO member) Indu Prakash and his team - to visit all the proposed places and submit a report within a week," the bench said.

The bench said it would hear the plea Jan 14.

The court's direction came after the NGO handed over a list of proposed places to build night shelters.

Advocate Jayant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, told the court that the organisation submitted a report on the places which needed night shelters to be put up on an urgent basis.

He claimed the DUSIB refused to build additional night shelters, saying most of the places mentioned in the report have no homeless people.

The bench also said the Lt. Governor was personally inspecting the night shelters and instead of litigating, the NGOs should pay a more constructive role.

"Enough is being done... it's not good to criticise the government (on the work done on night shelters). Lt. Governor is personally taking interest and inspecting night shelters," the court said.

It asked the NGO: "Instead of collecting data, the NGOs should say what can be done. The number of NGOs is more than police in the country. What is the use of them (NGO)? Play more constructive role instead of litigating. We have to work within the legal framework."

The court was hearing a case it took up on its own after media reports highlighted the absence of enough and proper night shelters for homeless people in the city.