Supreme Court restrains Delhi Govt. from demolishing night shelters

NEW DELHI - In the wake of media reports about demolition of night shelters by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and other authorities in utter disregard of the lives of thousands of homeless destitutes, the Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the Delhi Government from demolishing any such shelter, temporary or permanent, in the national capital.

Taking suo motu cognisance of reports that night shelters have been razed in the city in the midst of winter, an apex court bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma asked the government to refrain from demolishing such shelters.

“Do not take any steps to demolish otherwise we will pass orders,” said the apex court bench.

The Supreme Court further said the concerned issue would be taken up on a priority basis on Thursday ‘in view of the biting cold, as no purpose could be served if the matter was taken after February as originally scheduled’.

“It was more concerned about the reports of demolition by the authorities as reported in the newspapers. We hope the reports are not true,” the apex court bench remarked in reply to a Delhi Government’s counsel, who said that 64 permanent and 43 temporary night shelters have been set up. (ANI)