NHRC asks Delhi Government for its comments on media report of shelterless elderly couple's plight
New Delhi, 14 November 2005
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo-motu cognizance of the plight of an elderly couple who according to a newspaper report stated that they have no roof above their head. The news item captioned "Patience running out for this couple" along with a photo appeared in the Hindustan Times dated 11 November 2005 which reported that 87 years Sani Devi and her ailing 92 years husband are living in an open compound for the past one month, although they have four settled sons and five daughters married in Delhi. According to the news report, the couple was living alone in a LIG, DDA Flat in Jahangirpuri and surviving on their meagre joint pension of Rs.700/-. The flat it was stated was given by a policeman who took pity on the aged couple's plight and allowed them to stay. However, in September 2005, the couple was asked to vacate the house by the original allottee. It quoted the victim as stating that when she had gone to the hospital where her husband had been admitted for treatment, the DDA and MCD officials came and sealed the house. The couple hopes that their ordeal will be over soon.
The Commission observed that if the contents of the report are true, it raises serious issues of violation of human rights of the old people/senior citizens. It directed that a copy of the news item be sent to the Chief Secretary, Delhi and the Director, Department of Social Welfare, Delhi for their comments within two weeks.
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo-motu cognizance of the plight of an elderly couple who according to a newspaper report stated that they have no roof above their head. The news item captioned "Patience running out for this couple" along with a photo appeared in the Hindustan Times dated 11 November 2005 which reported that 87 years Sani Devi and her ailing 92 years husband are living in an open compound for the past one month, although they have four settled sons and five daughters married in Delhi. According to the news report, the couple was living alone in a LIG, DDA Flat in Jahangirpuri and surviving on their meagre joint pension of Rs.700/-. The flat it was stated was given by a policeman who took pity on the aged couple's plight and allowed them to stay. However, in September 2005, the couple was asked to vacate the house by the original allottee. It quoted the victim as stating that when she had gone to the hospital where her husband had been admitted for treatment, the DDA and MCD officials came and sealed the house. The couple hopes that their ordeal will be over soon.
The Commission observed that if the contents of the report are true, it raises serious issues of violation of human rights of the old people/senior citizens. It directed that a copy of the news item be sent to the Chief Secretary, Delhi and the Director, Department of Social Welfare, Delhi for their comments within two weeks.