5 August: The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered an inspection of Asha Kiran, a residential institution for individuals with intellectual disabilities, following the deaths of 14 residents in July. The court deemed these fatalities, which allegedly stemmed from malnutrition and other health issues, as too numerous to be coincidental, according to a report from Live Law.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela instructed the Delhi government’s social welfare secretary to visit the Rohini-based facility on Tuesday. Additionally, the court directed the Delhi Jal Board to test the quality of drinking and sewage water at Asha Kiran. The matter is set for further hearing on Wednesday.
The bench was responding to a public interest litigation filed by the non-governmental organization Samadhan Abhiyan, which called for a court-monitored investigation into the deaths at the institution. The petitioners, represented by advocates Abhigyan Siddhant and Anurag Sahay, requested a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry and a social audit of all such residential facilities in the national capital.
The petitioners argued that these incidents reflect an “absolute collapse of governance in Delhi,” as reported by The Indian Express. They urged the court to intervene to prevent further suffering of Delhi residents due to alleged administrative incompetence.
The Delhi government’s counsel contended that only one of the deceased was a child and that those who died had severe intellectual disabilities and other comorbidities. The counsel noted that most deaths occurred in hospitals, and post-mortem reports are pending.
The bench emphasized the need for immediate remedial measures, stating, “If there is some problem, find it first and foremost.” The court suggested relocating some residents if Asha Kiran is overcrowded.
Reports of the deaths surfaced on Friday, with The Times of India noting that 12 of the fatalities occurred between July 15 and July 31, predominantly affecting women. The symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting, were consistent among the deceased, and several other residents are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
Following these reports, the Delhi government initiated an inquiry into the deaths. The Asha Kiran facility, established in 1989, houses 1,000 residents despite its capacity for only 500, according to The Times of India.
In February 2017, the Delhi Commission for Women condemned the deaths of 11 residents over two months at Asha Kiran, highlighting inhumane living conditions during a surprise inspection led by then-panel chief Swati Maliwal.
