MUMBAI: Bombay High Court has rapped the Maharashtra government for putting the onus on Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to locate sites for night shelters for the homeless in Mumbai.
“Now you want municipal corporation to identify the sites?” asked a bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anil on February 26 when informed that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has not sent a proposal for construction of night shelters to the government..The court heard a public interest litigation filed by NGO Homeless Collective on the non-compliance of the 2013 Central guidelines for building permanent shelters. Supreme Court in 2010 had mandated setting up year round night shelters while hearing a petition on urban malnourishment.
The bench said in its February 4 order, it had pointed out “several deficiencies” in the affidavit of the State government and of how no steps were taken by it to make land available for setting up shelters. The judges said the government must approach authorities including Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the collector to find out if they have land available. They also added that there has to be some effort made or the scheme envisaged by the Supreme Court will never come into existence. The chief secretary is directed to convene a meeting with the authorities within two months.
TOI | Feb 27, 2015
Contact Lawyers In India : https://lawintellectindia.com/contact-us/