With winter approaching, the Supreme Court on Tuesday demanded comprehensive details from the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) about the facilities available to shelter the city’s homeless population. The directive came during a hearing on the fundamental right to shelter for homeless individuals in urban settings.
Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan, presiding over the bench, expressed concern over the readiness of shelter facilities as colder weather nears. They specifically seek information on the capacity of these shelters and the estimated number of individuals needing such accommodations.
During the session, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing one of the petitioners, highlighted the ongoing challenges, noting that the total capacity of Delhi’s shelter homes stands at approximately 17,000 persons. This figure became more alarming as Bhushan revealed that DUSIB had recently demolished nine shelters, displacing around 450 residents, despite these shelters having an official capacity of only 286.
Responding to the bench’s inquiries, the DUSIB’s counsel acknowledged the demolition of six temporary shelters due to flooding by the River Yamuna earlier in the year. He assured the court that those affected were relocated to a permanent shelter in Geeta colony, stressing that there were no cold-related fatalities reported last winter.
However, the discussion took a contentious turn when Bhushan accused a senior DUSIB officer of bribery, citing a registered FIR. The court rebuked these claims as potentially damaging to the officer’s reputation, noting that the officer had not been formally accused in the case. The bench criticized the presentation of such allegations without sufficient proof as “character assassination.”
The Supreme Court has scheduled further discussions for December 17 and directed DUSIB to submit an affidavit detailing the available facilities and their adequacy to handle the expected influx during the winter. The justices also advised using data from the past five to six years to assess and prepare adequately for the current year’s needs.
