News

Volume 9 Issue 10 - August 01, 2012

Delhi High Court terms Asha Kiran as “worst kind of human rights violation”

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: Coming down heavily on the infamous Government run welfare home for people with disabilities, Asha Kiran, the Delhi High Court has termed the treatment meted out to inmates with mental disabilities as the “worst kind of human rights violation”.

"You are keeping them like animals. Are they chattel? There cannot be worse kind of human rights violation than this,” said a Division Bench of Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, appalled at the pictures of an inspection report.

The Bench also took serious exception to the fact that 2 lawyers appointed by the Court to inspect the home were detained illegally. The lawyers alleged they witnessed a man with a mental disability carrying a dead body inside the compound, inmates having nothing to wear and forced to stay naked.

Appearing for Delhi Government, counsel Shobhna Takiar tried to defend by saying that the home is overcrowded as its capacity is only 300 while at present 950 people are staying there! The Bench has sought a detailed report on the issue.Asha Kiran Home is run by the Delhi Government in collaboration with an N.G.O. called Hope Foundation.

Asha Kiran has become notorious for over-crowding, unhygienic living conditions and rampant abuse of people with disabilities living there. Yet, for years on end, the Government seems to be happy fighting litigations on the issue and setting up numerous Committees to “look into the matter”.