No resident of Delhi should remain shelterless, Delhi High Court [Read order]

The Delhi High Court on Friday, directed the Delhi Government to ensure that adequate shelter is provided to people who were rendered homeless due to the demolition of a Night Shelter in Amir Khursro Park in Delhi’s Nizamuddin Area..The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and newly sworn in Justice Pratibha M. Singh took note of a newspaper report in The Times of India regarding the said demolition which was effected on a court order..The Standing Counsel for Government of NCT of Delhi, advocate Satyakam informed the Court that the Amir Khusro Park Area had three night shelters and the shelter which was demolished was being used by only women and children..The Court was also informed that the displaced women and children had been accommodated in a night shelter near Nizamuddin Dargah which had extra space..The Court took note of the fact that a picture of a man and an infant child sleeping in the open was included in the newspaper report..“This picture does not relate to inmates of the night shelter for the obvious reason that the night shelter in question was being used for women and children”.The bench observed that this was a deliberate act to mislead the people and create a wrong impression about the Court and statutory authorities..Mr. Lorren Bamniyal, Registrar (Appellate) was appointed as amicus curie in the matter..The Court directed the Local commissioner to visit the spot with the counsel for the parties and submit a report with photographs of the shelter home where the occupants have been accommodated and the facilities available to them..The Court also directed the Delhi Government to inform the court also as to why steps are not being taken to ensure that adequate shelters are provided to all the homeless in Delhi..“Some of the documents brought to our notice would show that there is a requirement of much large number of night shelters which have not been constructed for want of adequate land. This is not only unfortunate as no resident of Delhi ought to be permitted to remain shelterless. This would be the responsibility of the GNCT of Delhi”, the court noted in its order..The matter will be next heard on May 22..Read the Order below.