Delhi High Court Orders Water Quality Tests At Asha Kiran Shelter Home After 14 Mysterious Deaths

The Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Jal Board to test the water quality and examine the condition of sewer pipelines at the Asha Kiran shelter home in Rohini.

This order was issued following the deaths of approximately 14 residents in July, on Monday.

Delhi High Court Orders Water Quality Tests

The court also instructed the social welfare secretary of the Delhi government to submit a report on the living conditions at the shelter home. A bench comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela highlighted that the high number of deaths within a brief period could not be coincidental. "There are too many deaths in a short span of time. Fourteen deaths in number. It cannot be a coincidence," the bench remarked.

Authorities were also directed by the court to decongest the shelter home. "A cursory glance at the summary shows that all the deaths were because the patients were suffering from TB. The Delhi Jal Board is directed to test the quality of water forthwith as well as the condition of water and sewer pipelines and file a report," the bench stated, as reported by Hindustan Times.

The Social Welfare Secretary of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) was ordered to visit the ASHA Kiran Complex and submit a report to the court. "If there are too many occupants in the complex, then the complex will be decongested, and the occupants should be moved to another appropriate place," the bench added. Reports indicate that since February, 25 people, including the 14 who died in July, have passed away in the shelter home, as per media reports.

Earlier this month, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kuldeep Kumar had accused the centre of negligence and called upon the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to take action against the responsible officers. "I want to ask why the shelter home was under an administrator who was arrested by the CBI in 2016 for taking a 'bribe' and remained suspended for five years. I want to ask the LG VK Saxena on what basis such a corrupt officer was appointed as the administrator," he said.