The Delhi High Court slammed Arvind Kejriwal Government on Monday over the condition of night shelters and its inability to prevent deaths due to cold in the Capital. The court also asked the Urban Development Ministry why all NGOs were not called for the meeting to improve the night shelters.
The court pulled up the Government saying it is not taking up the night shelter issue seriously. Expressing its displeasure on the Government’s attitude towards the arrangements made which has been unable to prevent deaths due to weather in the Capital, the court directed the Government to call a meeting and submit a report within four weeks.
The division bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw was hearing the plea of a group of NGOs who complained to the court that they were being ignored by the new Government in taking decisions and steps for the night shelter inhabitants.
The plea also revealed the court that between December 1, 2013 and January 22 as many as 395 people have been killed by the biting cold in the Capital because of the poor condition of the night shelters. The Government told the court that it was in talks with Delhi Police for coordination on the issue.
Earlier this month, Urban Development Minister Manish Sisodia had promised setting up 100 night shelters in the Capital, out of which 40 shelters have been set up so far. The Government also launched an exercise of inspection the shelters with the help of 100 volunteers who visited the shelters every night for a few days to check conditions.