Delhi High Court directs Centre and Delhi govt to improve night shelters amid severe cold wave in the city
Delhi High Court Addresses Night Shelter Conditions
The Delhi High Court on Monday took suo moto cognizance of inadequate facilities at night shelters in the city during the cold winter months. The court directed the Delhi government and the Centre to ensure that homeless individuals in the Capital receive sufficient amenities at the shelters to protect themselves from the weather.
Additionally, the court instructed the governments and the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to submit a status report detailing the conditions and facilities available in the night shelters.
“We issued notice to the respondents and directed them to file a status report indicating the situation prevailing…in shelters across the city and services provided to the residents so that they are equipped to face severe cold. Mention what you have done. What is the situation there?” said the bench, which included Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
“If any of us has to live there for a night, we do not know what will happen. Be sensitive. The court issued this direction after a coordinate bench took cognizance of the ‘severe conditions’ based on a newspaper report published on January 11, which highlighted the grim conditions of the night shelter near All India Medical Sciences,” the bench stated. The next hearing is scheduled for January 14.
A cold wave continued to grip the region on Monday as temperatures in Delhi dropped to 3.2°C, which is 4.2 degrees below the seasonal average. The air quality remained in the “poor” category and was likely to worsen to “very poor” during the day. Similar conditions are expected to persist at least until Wednesday.
| Date | Temperature (°C) | Air Quality | Next Hearing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 11 | 3.2 | Poor | January 14 |
