Night-shelter demolished in south Delhi, DDA says action legal

A night-shelter meant for women and children in souht Delhi's Nizamuddin area has allegedly been demolished by the DDA, sparking an outcry,
The urban body, however, said the action was "legal" and taken to remove encroachment.
"The shelter, situated in Amir Khusro Park area, near Neela Gumband monument, accommodated about around 50 children and about 50 women. The children were mostly picked up from the streets, who used to beg, and were being rehabilitated.
"Some of them had been enrolled in a municipal school nearby. The shelter was demolished last night," claimed an official of the NGO, which ran the shelter.

"We were running it in partnership with the DUSIB (Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board). The affected people have been accommodated at another shelter located nearby from it," he said.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today also reacted to the demolition action.

"V sad. Del govt's shelter home demolished. Women, children rendered homeless. They r being shifted to another shelter home," he tweeted.
A senior official of the DDA, when contacted said, "The demolition was completely legal and carried out in accordance with the Delhi High Court order."
The high court today heard a plea by the NGO, which through its counsel Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, has moved the court in this connection.

The park is bordered by Lala Lajpat Rai Marg and Lodhi Road.
The court however, directed the authorities to ensure that all the homeless are accommodated in another shelter home situated in the vicinity.
The Delhi Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of the demolition and instituted an enquiry into it. DCW chief Swati Maliwal has also written to the DUSIB and the District Commissioner of Police (South East) seeking information on the circumstances surrounding the demolition.