The Delhi High Court on Thursday has instructed the Delhi Government’s Chief Secretary and relevant authorities to promptly address a plea seeking a comprehensive survey of the homeless population in the city and an evaluation of existing shelter home services.
The directive, issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, emphasized that the representation must be addressed in accordance with the law.
The petition, filed by the Centre for Holistic Development through advocate Robin Raju, highlighted longstanding concerns about homelessness in Delhi, dating back to the 1950s.
Despite previous surveys and measures by the Delhi government, court directives, and interventions by the National Human Rights Commission, the city lacks reliable and standardized data on its homeless population.
While a 2010 survey recorded 67,151 homeless individuals, subsequent surveys have produced inconsistent figures, reflecting the absence of a standardized data collection process.
The plea underscored the urgency of addressing this issue, especially during extreme weather conditions such as the heatwave in June 2024, which claimed nearly 200 lives.
The petition also pointed to difficulties in identifying homeless individuals both in life and death, citing challenges in relying on police data for unlisted, unidentified deceased persons. The plea emphasized the need to identify homeless individuals while they are alive to ensure their deaths due to starvation, accidents, or exposure are recognized as state neglect.
In response to the June heatwave fatalities, the NHRC directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to provide a report on precautionary measures taken. However, fatalities continued to occur, highlighting gaps in implementation and resource allocation.
The petitioner’s representation to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MHUA) called for an updated survey to address these gaps. While the MHUA acknowledged that the responsibility for the survey lies with DUSIB, the effort remains incomplete.
The plea stressed the importance of accurate data to improve resource allocation and service delivery for the homeless. It also noted that marginalized communities were particularly impacted by homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by recent demolitions that displaced many individuals.
Court’s direction aims to ensure a more effective response to homelessness in Delhi, providing clarity on the scale of the issue and guiding targeted interventions.
