High court tells Madhya Pradesh to build night shelters

BHOPAL - Taking a cue from the Supreme Court, the Madhya Pradesh High Court Thursday directed the state government to immediately take measures to construct night shelters for the homeless urban poor.

The bench of Chief Justice S.R. Alam and Justice Alok Aradhe directed that the state government must immediately take measures to construct night shelters and submit a report.

The apex court earlier in the day took a serious note of the demolition of night shelters in Delhi and directed the central government, all states and their instrumentalities not to demolish any night shelter without providing an alternative.

The apex court observed that it was the duty of both the central and state governments to ensure, at all costs, that no death took place because of lack of night shelters or basic facilities.

During the hearing before the principal bench of the high court in Jabalpur, a petitioner charged the state of inaction on the issue.

The court was hearing a case between social activist Medha Patkar and the state.

Counsel for petitioner Siddharth Seth highlighted the plight of the homeless and argued that the state was running away from the responsibility of providing night shelters.

Advocate General R.D. Jain argued that the issue could not be taken up by the high court as it was pending before the Supreme Court.