Delhi HC Flags 'Strange Coincidence' In Deaths At Asha Kiran Shelter Home, Seeks Report From Govt

The high court remarked that the 14 deaths seemed like a "strange coincidence" as most of them who died suffered from tuberculosis.

HC directed the Delhi Jal Board to test the quality of water in the shelter home

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The Delhi High Court on Monday heard the petition pertaining to the recent deaths of 14 inmates of government-run Asha Kiran shelter home that houses nearly 980 mentally challenged persons. After briefly hearing the case the high court remarked that the deaths seemed like a "strange coincidence" as most of them who died suffered from tuberculosis.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela ordered the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to test the quality of water in the shelter home as well as the condition of water and sewer pipelines and file a report on the same.

The high court also directed the social welfare secretary to personally visit the premises on August 6 and file a report on the same in the high court.

The high court observed that curative measures were required in the matter and said if the shelter home was overcrowded, the authorities would decongest it and move some inmates to another facility.

In July, 14 inmates, including a child, died at Asha Kiran shelter home in Delhi.

Following the deaths, a PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a probe into the deaths. The high court heard the matter today and issued directios to the city government. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on Wednesday (August 7).

At present, the shelter home houses nearly 980 disabled persons, including men, women and children. The high court added that if there is overcrowding at the Asha Kiran shelter home, occupants must be shifted to an appropriate location.