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Judgment
D.N. Patel, CJ
W.P.(C) 2085/2018
This Public Interest Litigation has been preferred with the following prayers :
“(A) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ directing the respondents to conduct an immediate fire safety audit of all the Shelter Homes in Delhi by the Chief Fire Officer or any other officer designated by him.
(B) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ directing the Chief Fire Officer of Delhi to lay down minimum fire safety Norms for the Temporary Homeless Shelters/Homeless shelters.
(C) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ directing the respondent to take immediate steps to convert all the Temporary homeless shelters into permanent Night Shelters as per the Guidelines of the DAY National Urban Livelihood Mission Shelter for Urban Homeless.
(D) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ directing the respondents for an electricity Connection audit to be immediately done by the respective Electricity Suppliers and DUSIB in each area and provision for appropriate electricity connection and safety be made.
(E) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ directing the respondent DUSIB to make the Provision for the Fireproof and Waterproof tents be made for the Temporary Shelters.
(F) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ directing the respondent DUSIB to make the immediate provision for the fire fighting equipments and training be made for the Care Takers of the Homeless shelters.
(G) Pass an order directing that Tendering by auctioning be immediately be abolished and empanelment of good and reputed organisations be done to run the Homeless shelters with appropriate facilities
(H) Pass an order directing immediate Investigation of the incident of death of the 3'""' March 2018 at Dandi Park Campus, Near Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi and a report of the same be submitted to this Hon’ble court.
(I) Pass any such directions or order which this Hon'ble court deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the above mentioned case.”
Having heard learned counsel for both the sides and looking to the affidavits and the status reports filed by the respondent no.1, especially status report dated 14th February, 2020, paragraphs 4 and 6 thereof read as under :
“4. That in this regard, it is pertinent to mention here that DUISB has established and maintains as many as 233 Night Shelters. The breakup of those Night Shelters is under:
A. RCC/Pucca Building: 78
B. Porta Cabin: 114
C. Temporary/Tented: 41
That as such, as on the date of swearing of this affidavit, as many as 217 night shelters, comprising 176 Permanent or Porta Cabins and
41 Pagoda Tents Shelter Homes, as provided, are fully in compliance of recommendations made by Delhi Fire Service. The work to make another 11 Shelter Homes to make it fire-compliant norms is on and shall complete by 30/04/2020.”
In view of the aforesaid facts, it appears that in 217 Night Shelters there is already due compliance of the fire safety norms. So far as 11 shelter homes are concerned, the fire safety norms will be complied with on or before 30th April, 2020 and for remaining 5 night shelter homes, the fire safety services are not technically feasible because of prevailing conditions at those 5 night shelters.
Looking to the steps already taken by the respondent no.1 with regard to fire safety measures in the Night Shelters, we see no reason to further monitor this case. It is expected from the respondents that these fire safety measures already installed by the respondents will continue in future and the equipment already applied at those Night Shelters will be maintained properly by the respondents.
With these observations, this writ petition is hereby disposed of.