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The Delhi High Court on Tuesday pulled up the Delhi Government's Finance Department for allegedly failing to allocate funds to the Department of Social Justice for the takeover of a building from the MCD aimed at de-congesting Asha Kiran.
Earlier, the Court had directed the Secretary of the Social Welfare Ministry of Government of NCT Delhi to visit the shelter home in connection with the recent Death of several inmates at Asha Kiran, a shelter home in Rohini's Delhi for the intellectually disabled. On Tuesday, the bench led by Chief Justice Manmohan also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela expressed dissatisfaction with the Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department, noting a lackadaisical approach to addressing the issue of fund allocation. In response, the Additional Chief Secretary assured the court that action would be taken swiftly.Counsel for the Delhi Government informed the court that a fresh report would be submitted by the next hearing. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 13. During the hearing, the bench expressed strong disapproval, stating, "The urgency is not impressed upon you... 14 people have died... You should have called the MCD official and asked him the queries." Additionally, the court directed the Secretary of the Social Welfare Department to appear at the next hearing. Previously, the Court directed all concerned authorities to address the urgent needs at Asha KiranShelter's Home without delay. Expressing urgency and disappointment, the Court instructed the Secretary to prioritize immediate action over procedural formalities and stressed that financial constraints should not be a barrier to addressing the critical issues. The bench also asked the Secretary to request additional resources and staff, including contractual hires, to address the emergency. The court recorded the assurance from the Social Welfare Secretary that he would personally monitor the situation. Earlier, the Court noted that despite the efforts, the shelter is still dealing with an excess of 400 inmates. The bench emphasised the urgency of the situation by highlighting that human lives are invaluable and must be protected. The bench insists that the Secretary act swiftly to address the deficiencies at the shelter, including ensuring that the facilities are connected to nearby hospitals and that fully equipped ambulances are stationed at these locations. The court stressed that if these measures are not implemented, there should be accountability and changes in management. The court direction came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation by an NGO called Samadhan Abhiyan concerning Deaths that took place in said Shelter Home recently. The official report stated that a total of 25 deaths were recorded from February 2024, out of which 14 deaths occurred (Male-6, Female-8) in the shelter home in July 2024. (ANI)
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