Homeless need better shelters: HC

The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the Delhi government and civic agencies to come up with a long-term plan to protect the city’s homeless.

The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the Delhi government and civic agencies to come up with a long-term plan to protect the city’s homeless.

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A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, said, “The Delhi government, in association with the MCD, will chalk out a long-term plan according to Master Plan 2021 that has the provision of 140 night shelters.”

The court asked the government’s chief secretary to convene a meeting with the other departments, including various NGOs, on February 4 and file a status report by February 10.

Nazmi Waziri, Delhi government counsel, submitted that 78 more night shelters, including temporary and permanent ones, for the homeless have been started.

“So far as measures are concerned, these are short-term and have taken place due to the sudden fall in temperature. So we have to plan for the future also,” the bench said.

The court also directed that all temporary shelters remain as they are till March 31 and that permission be taken from the court before removing them.

The court also directed that a survey be conducted as to where and of what capacity these shelters will be placed.

Earlier this week, the apex court also pulled up the government for not providing shelter to the homeless.