The Railway today told the Delhi High Court that its land near stations here is not available to make night shelters for the homeless as the people who will stay there will not die of cold but will be killed when they cross the tracks carelessly.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, however, was of the view that in winter this year "no one in the national capital should die of cold or be found sleeping on road side".
"We are not concerned with the space and the blankets or the beddings given to the homeless at night. All that we want is that no one sleeps on the road this winter," the court said while asking DDA, DSIIDC (Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd), MCD, NDMC, Cantonment Board and Land and Development Office to make all kinds of arrangements.
However, on the question raised by the counsel for Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) that railway officials are not co-operating in their project, the northern railway's counsel said "the space near railway stations cannot be made available for homeless as they cross the railway track carelessly to and fro of which they die".
The court said "we need not blame each other. Some way has to be found out. Some more additional directions need to be given to the agency involved".
The authorities and the NGOs are also directed to give suggestion so that it can consider it, the judge added.
The court has fixed the matter for further hearing on January 7, 2015 while asking the civic bodies here to explore all the possibilities and even to consult St Columbus School to make available its basement for the homeless during winter night.
It also asked DUSIB to contact NDMC for allowing the homeless to sleep at their subways.
The court is hearing a case it took up on its own after media reports highlighted the absence of enough and proper night shelters for the homeless in the city.
