The Delhi High Court has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to transfer one of its nursing college and hostel buildings to the Social Welfare Department, intended for use as a shelter home for mentally challenged individuals, where 14 inmates recently passed away.
The court issued this direction to accommodate residents from the Asha Kiran shelter home, which is currently overcrowded, housing over 920 inmates, far exceeding its intended capacity of 570. The building will be renovated to house inmates from Asha Kiran.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, emphasized the urgent need for additional space to alleviate overcrowding at the shelter.
The court was also informed by the Department of Social Welfare that all vacancies for health and non-health staff have been filled. The Delhi High Court is presently examining a plea concerning serious issues at the Asha Kiran shelter home, where 14 deaths occurred within a month amid severe staff shortages.
The High Court underscored the urgency of the situation at the Asha Kiran shelter home, where approximately 400 people are exceeding the facility’s capacity. The court stressed that acquiring a new building for the shelter is an immediate priority, emphasizing that the situation is critical and cannot be delayed.
The bench noted that the Department of Social Welfare has agreed to purchase the building, with the price to be determined by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and communicated at a later date.
At the last hearing, the court had directed all concerned authorities to address the urgent needs at the Asha Kiran Shelter Home without delay. Expressing both urgency and disappointment, the court instructed the Secretary to prioritize immediate action over procedural formalities and stressed that financial constraints should not hinder addressing the critical issues.
The bench also directed the Secretary to file a fresh status report by Monday and urged him not to feel helpless, emphasizing the need to address the crisis effectively.
The court also suggested approaching the Lieutenant Governor for additional funds and recommended hiring contractual employees to address the staff shortage. The next hearing is scheduled for Monday.
The court’s direction came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO called Samadhan Abhiyan concerning the recent deaths at the shelter home.
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 the month of July alone.
