HC notice to governments & Delhi top cop on beggars' homes

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre and the city government on a PIL seeking basic amenities, including proper food and medical facilities, at all beggars' homes in the national capital.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also sought a response of the Delhi Police Commissioner on a plea which was transferred to it by the Supreme Court early this year.

"Issue notice to the Union of India, Delhi government and the Delhi Police Commissioner. Let all the respondents file their counter affidavits within four weeks," the court said.

The court has fixed the matter for further hearing on August 5.

The apex court, while transferring the matter on January 30, had in its order said that it will be appropriate if the matter is dealt with by the High Court as the case pertains to beggars' homes in Delhi.

The apex court bench, comprising justices M B Lokur and U U Lalit, had also said that since the matter is pending for quite some time, the Delhi High Court is directed to take up the case on a regular basis and pass appropriate directions at the earliest.

To look into the facilities at beggars' homes, an expert committee was constituted by the Supreme Court comprising former Additional Solicitor General L Nageswara Rao, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves and advocate Indra Sawhney, which submitted its report on October 8, 2014, detailing the "inadequate" facilities at such institutions.

A PIL was first filed by Karnika Sawhney in the Supreme Court in year 2000, seeking basic human and fundamental rights for the beggars in the national capital.