The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union Territories to guarantee dignified living conditions in state-run beggars’ shelters, stressing that such institutions are a constitutional responsibility, not acts of charity. A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan said reforms must be introduced in these homes to uphold the right to life with dignity for one of society’s most vulnerable groups.
The court observed that failing to maintain humane conditions in shelters amounts to a violation of the fundamental right to dignity. It emphasized that beggars’ homes are constitutional trusts that must reflect principles of liberty, privacy, and dignity. States, the bench added, have a positive obligation towards the poor and homeless.
The court ordered mandatory medical check-ups for every person admitted to a shelter within 24 hours and monthly health examinations thereafter. Special measures must be put in place to prevent and control infectious and waterborne diseases. The apex court also directed states to establish minimum hygiene standards, including access to clean water, toilets, drainage, and mosquito control.
The directive followed a report of cholera and gastroenteritis at a Seelampur shelter in Delhi, caused by contaminated water. The Supreme Court further instructed that independent third-party audits of all beggars’ shelters be conducted every two years to ensure compliance.
