Approach Nodal Officer for grievances regarding denial of medical aid, ration or drinking water to Rohingya Refugees: Delhi HC

Approach the Nodal Officer/Revenue Magistrate concerned in case of denial of medical aid, ration or drinking water to any Rohingya Refugee, the Delhi High Court has ordered. (Fazal Abdali vs GNCT of Delhi).In case such a representation is filed, Nodal Officer has been directed to dispose it of by a speaking order within three working days, the Court has added..The order was passed by a Division Bench of Justices Manmohan and Sanjeev Narula in a public interest litigation seeking immediate relief for the Rohingya families living in three different settlements in Delhi..The Petitioner, Fazal Abdali, alleged that the Rohigya refugees were being denied relief under the various relief packages announced by the Government of Delhi to combat the COVID-19 pandemic..The Petitioner contended that in spite of an order passed by the Supreme Court on May 11, 2018, the Delhi Government failed to provide basic amenities such as safe drinking water, sanitation, medical aid and education for their children. .The Court perused the petition filed in the matter and noted that the allegations of neglect of Rohingya families made by the Petitioner in the represenation made to the Delhi Government were general in nature and did not mention any specific particulars..Neither the names of the families with whom the Petitioner had interacted nor the name of the individual who was alleged to be detained by the local police was mentioned in the representation made by the Petitioner, the Court said. .The Court also considered the order passed by the Supreme Court on May 11, 2018 and noted that a Nodal Officer had been appointed by the Supreme Court to address the grievances of Rohingya Refugees. .The Court further opined that since the matter was pending in the Supreme Court, it would not be appropriate to entertain a second writ petition..In response to the petition, the Delhi Government submitted that adequate ration has been provided to Rohingya families and four hunger centres were being run close to the three settlements mentioned by the Petitioner..In view of the above, the petition was disposed of with a direction to the Petitioner to approach the Nodal Officer/Revenue Magistrate in accordance with the May 11, 2018 order passed by the Supreme Court. .The Court directed the Petitioner to approach the Nodal Officer with precise allegations/particulars, specifically mentioning the name and address of the refugee who has been denied medical aid or ration or drinking water. .In the event, such a representation is filed, the same shall be disposed of by the Nodal Officer by a speaking order within three working days, the Court ordered. .Pettioner was represented by Advocate Sneha Mukherjee..Additional Standing Counsel Sanjoy Ghose with Advocate Urvi Mohan represented Delhi Government..Read the Order: