The court underscored the government's duty to provide adequate relief and rehabilitation to affected families under public interest litigation.

JUDGMENT

D.N. Patel, Chief Justice (Oral)

Proceedings in the matter have been conducted through video conferencing.

C.M.No.15377/2021 (exemptions from filing attested affidvits)

For the reasons stated in the application and in view of the present prevailing situation, the present application is allowed. However, the applicant is directed to file duly signed and affirmed affidavits within a period of one week from the date of resumption of regular functioning of the Court.

The application is disposed of.

W.P.(C) No.5017/2021 & C.M.No.15376/2021 (stay)

1. This public interest litigation has been preferred with the following prayers:

"a. Pass an order directing respondent no.1, Govt of NCT of Delhi to provide shelter to the affected families;

b. Pass an order directing respondent no.1, to provide quality meals a day to the affected families including Iftar in the evening and Sehri in the morning;

c. Pass an order directing respondent no.1, to provide age appropriate nutritious meals to affected children as per Schedule II of the National Food Security Act, 2013;

d. Pass an order directing the respondent no.1 to provide water, clothing, toilets, soaps, detergents, hand sanitizers, hand wash and masks to the affected families;

e. Pass an order directing respondent no.1 to provide medical aid to the affected residents;

f. Pass an order directing respondent no.1 to conduct a survey of the damaged property of the affected residents and compensate them accordingly;

g. Pass an order directing respondent no.1 to provide books, notebooks, pen, pencil and other educational amenities to the affected school going children;

h. Pass an order directing respondent no.1 to provide livelihood assistance to the affected families who lost their livelihood by fire;

i. Pass an order directing respondent no.1, Govt of NCT of Delhi and respondent no.2, DUSIB to conduct a joint survey of the affected residents and provide rehabilitation under the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015;

j. Any other order deem fit and proper."

2. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and looking to the submission made by learned counsel for respondent No.1 that they have already provided shelter, medical facilities and two meals to the persons who are affected by the incident in question.

3. It is also submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that they have also preferred a representation dated 16th April, 2021 (Annexure P-1 to the memo of the writ petition) before the concerned respondent authorities for ventilating their grievances.

4. We, therefore, direct the concerned respondent authorities to treat this writ petition as a representation and decide the same as early as possible and practicable in accordance with law, rules, regulations and Government policies applicable to the facts of the case.

5. With these observations, this writ petition is disposed of along with the pending application.