KUSTH ASHA DEEP FEDERATION Vs. AJOY K. PAITANDY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Violation of order of 30th July, 2003 in WP(C) 3998/96 is alleged in this contempt petition by petitioner who is Kusth Asha Deep Federation. Vide aforesaid order of 30th July, 2003, a Division Bench of this Court had formed a Committee comprising of nine members, who was to submit a report as to whether the lepers are being benefited under the schemes or not. The Committee was given liberty to take assistance from the N.G.Os and was to report to the Court about public property being occupied unauthorisedly and the report was to be submitted within three months of the passing of the aforesaid order.

(2.) It appears that in compliance of orders of 30th July, 2003 the report was not filed by the said Committee which led to filing of this contempt petition. During the pendency of this contempt petition, various interim orders have been passed to ensure that positive steps are taken to improve the conditions in the Leprosy Home in Tahirpur, Shahdara, Delhi and in six other leprosy colonies, whose details are given in order of 26th February, 2007. Ms. Sangeeta Chandra, Advocate was appointed to survey the work done in terms of the orders passed in this contempt petition from time to time.

(3.) A bare perusal of interim orders of 24th May, 2007, 18th January, 2011, 6th March, 2012, 16th August, 2012 and 12th December 2012 reveals that effective compliance of the directions issued vide order of 30th July, 2003 was not being made and so vide order of 19th July, 2013, Mr. Ravinder Sethi, learned Sr. Advocate was appointed as Court Commissioner to go into various aspects and it was directed that the complete records be made available to him. On 13th August, 2014, the learned Court Commissioner had disclosed that several aspects required a response from the respondents and areas on which the response was required from the respondents have been spelt out in the aforesaid order of 13th August, 2014. It is also noted in the aforesaid order of 13th August, 2014 that the status report filed by the Deputy Commissioner, North East Zone of 18th September 2009 revealed a dismal state of affairs in the Leprosy Homes.