India’s statutory body, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has recently taken suo-motu cognizance of a media report about the deaths of 14 inmates between July 15 and July 31 at the government-run Asha Kiran facility in Delhi’s Rohini—14 deaths in just 20 days. Additionally, a total of 27 inmates have died so far this year, since January.
Of the 14 individuals who died in July, 13 were adults and one was a child. The victims exhibited similar symptoms, including loose motions and vomiting. The deceased included 10 women and two men.
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According to data from the shelter home’s medical care unit, 54 inmates were receiving medical care outside the facility, raising concerns and fueling accusations of negligence and inadequate living conditions at the shelter home.
The commission has reviewed the news report and, if accurate, it points to significant human rights violations at the allegedly overcrowded shelter home.
In a statement, the NHRC indicated that the deaths of inmates over such a short period suggest a lack of oversight or negligence by the authorities.
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The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government and the Delhi Police Commissioner, demanding a detailed report within four weeks. The commission expects information on the status of the FIR, actions taken against the responsible officers/officials, and steps proposed by the authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
CAG Report on Asha Kiran Shelter
In its 2015 report, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) expressed concerns about the operations of the Asha Kiran Shelter Home.
The report noted that the facility was overwhelmed and inadequately equipped to handle medical emergencies, and it also suffered from insufficient staffing.
The report documented approximately 148 deaths between 2009 and 2014 and highlighted a lack of effort by the department to address overcrowding at the Asha Kiran complex.
In 2017, the Delhi Commission for Women also reported that the facility was in a deteriorated state.
