The Delhi High Court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday to transfer a building currently occupied by a nursing college and hostel to the Department of Social Welfare. This move is intended to facilitate the urgent relocation of inmates from the overcrowded Asha Kiran shelter home for the intellectually disabled.
In a session presided over by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, the court highlighted the dire conditions at Asha Kiran, where the number of residents significantly exceeds its capacity. The shelter, designed to house 570 individuals, currently accommodates 928, leading to urgent calls for decongestion, especially following the recent deaths of 14 inmates.
“The situation at Asha Kiran is critical, with approximately 400 individuals beyond its intended capacity,” stated Justice Manmohan. “It is imperative that these residents are provided with a new space immediately. This cannot wait.”
The court’s decision comes amidst ongoing issues with the MCD’s standing committee, which has yet to be constituted, potentially delaying necessary approvals for new accommodations. In response, the court has specifically instructed the MCD commissioner to expedite the handover of the building to the social welfare department, which has agreed to purchase the facility. The cost will be determined and communicated by the MCD in due course.
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During the hearing, the secretary of the social welfare department informed the court that steps have been taken to address staffing shortages at Asha Kiran, with most medical and non-medical positions now filled. This follows earlier court directives to swiftly recruit essential personnel, including doctors, to better care for the inmates.
