After Viral Video, AIIMS Tells Delhi HC It Will Build 3,000-Bed Rest House
New Delhi: AIIMS on Friday told the Delhi High Court that it has provided land to DUSIB for construction of around 80 night shelters for families of patients sleeping on the streets due to cold wave and will also undertake construction of a 3,000-bed rest house for them. Underlining the institute’s “patient-centric” and humane approach, the AIIMS consultant informed that it has taken several steps to ensure immediate respite as it is determined to ensure that no officer is left without dignified shelter during cold weather.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia was hearing the suo motu petition initiated by the high court after it came to know about a news report regarding the “deplorable situation” of patients and their relatives staying on the streets while waiting for treatment outside AIIMS.
Advocate Satya Ranjan Swain told the court that currently there are 949 beds available for the needy in three shelter centres, and as a long-term measure, it is proposed to build a 3,000-bed Vishram Sadan on a 2-acre land in Ansari Nagar West with the help of an NGO in Ahmedabad.
The bench also recalled the donations made by the Bar Association during the floods in Punjab and urged the Delhi High Court Bar Association to raise funds for Vishram Sadan.
“By mobilizing the bar association members, some kind of fund should be created and donated (to AIIMS),” Chief Justice Upadhyaya said.
The court asked all authorities to cooperate with AIIMS in the construction of the rest house, adding that the facility is expected to be constructed “in the shortest possible time”.
It was stated that the facility will go a long way in solving the problems faced by patient attendants at AIIMS.
On January 14, the bench had underlined that in a welfare state, it is the government’s imperative duty to provide adequate shelter to those awaiting treatment in hospitals, especially AIIMS, RML hospital, Lady Hardinge, Safdarjung Trauma Center and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, and directed the authorities to provide adequate night shelter to meet the current emergency caused by the ongoing cold wave.
On Friday, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma said a meeting of all stakeholders was held as per the court’s directions and steps were taken to ensure “not a single person gives him the cold shoulder”.
Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUUSIB) consultant said 20 new pagodas have been set up near AIIMS and Safdarjung and more will be erected by evening. He added that twenty tents were set up each near RML Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital.
Delhi Police advisor said nodal officers have been appointed for 24×7 monitoring. NDMC’s lawyer said it provides facilities like water and portable toilets.
In the report submitted by the Southern District Chief Judge, it was stated that the homeless were given blankets throughout the night and tents were set up in permitted places.
Appreciating the steps taken, the court said, “We feel that the situation has improved in the last two days” and that “all relevant efforts are being seriously made to solve the problem faced by homeless caregivers in and around hospitals.”
The court said it expected the nodal officers of the agencies to be “constantly alert” to address any shortcomings and ordered another meeting of the stakeholders under the chairmanship of the Southern District Chief Judge on January 24.
The case will be discussed on January 27.
In the last hearing, the court, DUSIB, AIIMS, RML hospital etc. He had directed senior officials of the organizations to hold a meeting to prepare a “short-term” plan to deal with the current weather situation and implement it on the same day.
On January 12, the high court had taken suo motu cognizance of a report regarding the “deplorable situation” of patients and their relatives staying on the streets.
A division bench comprising Justices C Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla said the matter required “immediate executive and judicial intervention”.
