NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of 12 inmates within a month in the Delhi government-run Shelter Home- Asha Kiran in Rohini

Press Release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 3rd August, 2024

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of 12 inmates within a month in the Delhi government-run Shelter Home- Asha Kiran in Rohini

Reportedly the Shelter Home for people with mental impairment is overcrowded with inmates double its capacity

CAG and Delhi Commission for Women also flagged the poor condition of the Shelter Home earlier

The Commission issues notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report within four weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that 12 inmates died within one month between July 15 and July 31 at a Delhi government-run Shelter Home- Asha Kiran for people with mental impairment in Rohini. Reportedly, they included 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. As per the data of the medical care unit of the Shelter Home in July, 54 inmates were sent outside the facility for treatment. This has caused alarm and revived allegations of neglect and poor living conditions at the Shelter Home.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violations of 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.

Accordingly, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. It is expected to include the status of the FIR in the matter, action taken against the responsible officials/ officers and steps taken/ proposed by the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

According to the media report, carried on 2nd August, 2024, Asha Kiran is not new to controversy. The Shelter Home has a capacity of 500 inmates but now over 1,000 are residing in it 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 over-burdened, 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.

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