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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday gave several directions to the Urban Shelter Improvement Board, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and Delhi Government to ensure treatment of people residing in the night shelters and providing adequate facilities to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection.
A division bench comprising of Justice Manmohan & Justice Sanjeev Narulaobserved that “We are, therefore, of the view that a system should be put in place where sufficient checks and vigilance is maintained with regard to maintenance of facilities at the night shelters in question, and other night shelter being run and managed by DUSIB in the NCT of Delhi.”
The Court gave the order while hearing a PIL filed by Karan Seth seeking directions regarding the treatment and accommodation for hundreds of outstations patients and their attendants who were earlier being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi (AIIMS) for several ailments as AIIMS stand converted into an exclusive facility to treat Covid-19 patients.
Earlier on the last hearing Mrs. Rachna Malik, who is a volunteer, and who has been regularly visiting the said night shelter at AIIMS, said before the Court that “there is no potable drinking water facility at the night shelter, and she has been providing drinking water at the said night shelter by purchasing the same.” She also said that “Though the toilets are cleaned twice a day, due to lack of water, they get soiled very fast, and there is also choking off the sewer line.”
On this the Court today observed that “What emerges from the reports and the video recordings is that the shortcomings pointed out by Ms. Malik in relation to lack of water, which was leading to unhygienic sanitation conditions; lack of drinking water; lack of record being maintained of the persons/visitors visiting the night shelter home, are correct. The version projected by Mr. Sharma, on the last date, in respect of the aforesaid aspects does not appear to be correct and we reject the same.”
Hence, the Court directed DUSIB to accredit NGOs and individual social workers who are associated with the night shelters and to involve the NGOs and individual social workers in the matter of supervision of such as night shelters. Any grievances, complaints, or suggestions that DUSIB may receive in respect of any of its night shelters from such NGOs, or social workers, should firstly be taken on record and actioned without any delay.
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