HC declines compensation for minor girl death at shelter home

The Delhi High Court today turned down a mother's plea seeking 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.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said the petitioner cannot blame the government for death of her minor child.
"What her husband was doing at that time? Why didn't she go to the government hospital," the court said, adding that "you cannot say that state was responsible for this incident".
On January 6, 2013 Priya Kale's daughter died at Motia Khan shelter home which was first opened in 2011 and today remains unfit for habitation, the petitioner had said.

Few weeks after her daughter's death, Kale had moved the high court also seeking improved conditions for the home.
She had also sought direction to prevent the untimely deaths of others in such situations.

Besides adequate compensation, Kale had asked for proper facilities to homeless pregnant and lactating women residing at shelter homes here.
The court, which said that it will pass a detailed order on the issue, observed that the petitioner cannot "burden" the state government.
The woman, in her petition pleaded for "reinforcement" of the interim order of the court to the department concerned on providing Motia Khan shelter home residents with three meals a day.

She had said the shelter home lacked adequate toilet, bathing area and kitchen facilities.
"It operates under very unhygienic conditions, is pest- ridden, and is home to several street dogs," the petition had said, adding it also lacks any semblance of security or privacy.
On February 1, 2013, the high court had directed improvement of living conditions at the home.