NHRC issues notices to Delhi Govt, Police Commissioner over deaths of 12 inmates in Rohini shelter home

New Delhi [India], August 3 : Taking cognisance of the reported deaths of 12 inmates in a month at a Delhi government-run shelter home in Rohini for people with mental impairments, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Commissioner of Police and called for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.
According to the NHRC, 12 inmates who died at the government-run shelter home, Asha Kiran, between July 15 and July 31, there were 10 women and two men.
"Their symptoms were similar i.e., loose motion and vomiting. Several other inmates are reportedly undergoing treatment at the hospital," the NHRC release stated on Saturday.
As per the data of the medical care unit of the Shelter Home in July, 54 inmates were sent outside the facility for treatment. It has caused alarm and revived allegations of neglect and poor living conditions at the Shelter Home, the NHRC said.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violations of the human rights of the inmates at the reportedly overcrowded Shelter Home.
The deaths of inmates, in such a large number within a short period, indicate negligence on the part of the authorities, it added.
Accordingly, taking suo motu cognisance, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks, the release said.
It is expected to include the status of the FIR in the matter, action taken against the responsible officials or officers and steps taken or proposed by the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur, the Commission said.
According to the media report carried on August 2, Asha Kiran is not new to controversy. The shelter home has a capacity of 500 inmates but now over 1,000 are residing, resulting in overcrowding.
Reportedly, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had red-flagged the functioning of this shelter home in its 2015 report.
It was observed that the facility was overburdened, ill-equipped for medical emergencies and short on staff.
The report highlighted that a total of 148 deaths had occurred during 2009-14. It had also found slackness on the part of the department towards decongestion of the Asha Kiran complex.
In 2017, the Delhi Commission for Women also submitted a report stating that the facility was in poor condition.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has also called for a comprehensive inquiry into the state of all shelter homes run by the GNCTD, including the circumstances surrounding the deaths at Asha Kiran Home.