The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to set up a dedicated, state-level helpline to identify and assist destitute persons living on the streets. The court stressed the urgent need for a functional and responsive system to provide relief, protection, and rehabilitation to those in distress.
A division bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice A K Chaudhary issued the directive while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Jyoti Rajput. The PIL highlights the plight of destitute individuals in urban and rural areas and the state’s duty to ensure their well-being under constitutional and statutory mandates.
The court instructed the government to make at least four helpline numbers operational and ensure they are widely publicised so that citizens can promptly report the presence of destitute individuals. Once such a report is received, state officials must respond quickly and initiate support and rehabilitation measures.
Crucially, the bench noted that the 11-member task force constituted by the government plays a pivotal role at this stage. The court observed that the task force must use information from the helpline system to act decisively and ensure effective implementation of the Government Order dated December 24, 2025, concerning destitute identification and welfare.
The court has asked the state government to submit a detailed and practical action plan before the next hearing scheduled on February 23.
