The Government has opposed creation of an alternate body of experts to assist the recently constituted Social Justice Bench finding fault with the Central Empowered Committee formed by the Forest Bench that reduced decision making process within Government totally redundant.
At its maiden sitting, the Social Justice Bench was confronted with a host of issues ranging from rehabilitation of project-affected persons, building of shelter homes for homeless, monitoring welfare legislations for construction workers to hostels for scheduled caste students and rescue of children working as bonded labourers in circuses.
With almost all States party to each petition, the Bench of Justices Madan B lokur and UU lalit faced an uphill task to verify details being provided in each State. A suggestion came forth from lawyer activist Prashant Bhushan to employ services of civil society members to make inspections and report to Court.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) PS Narasimha who appeared for the Centre before the Bench opposed the move to create an alternate system instead of making the existing system work. Referring to the Forest Bench experience of referring all matters to CEC, Narasimha said, “We have now a CEC instead of Forest Advisory Committee where existing staff refuse to work as they always say that courts will take decisions. Having an expert body has made the existing system redundant.”
The Bench reminded the Centre that it had a duty to enforce its schemes in States and not wash its hands off leaving the burden on Courts. Dealing with a PIl to provide night shelters, the Bench directed Centre and States to report how many shelters were constructed under a 2013 National Urban livelihood Mission (NUlM) by December 31 and if not provided, identify sites for temporary shelters and report to Court by January 9, the next date of hearing.