Supreme Court raps UP over condition of Muzaffarnagar relief camps

The Supreme Court on Thursday took “serious” note of deaths of over 40 children in relief camps for riot-affected people in Muzaffarnagar and directed the Uttar Pradesh government to immediately take remedial measures to meet the threat of winter.

The apex court, which asked the State administration to “ascertain the correctness” of the media-based “serious” averments made in a petition, expressed displeasure that despite its orders to take adequate relief and rehabilitation measures, incidents of death of children have been reported leading to uproar in Parliament.

“We read in the newspapers about the death of children in the relief camps. Even Parliament also discussed the death of children. It is a matter of serious concern,” a bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and Ranjan Gogoi said.

“We directed that adequate measures should be taken in relief camps and even then all these are happening,” the bench observed while directing the State government to take all necessary steps and remedial measures for affected people, including children, by Friday morning.

“We direct the state to ascertain the correctness of the reports on the death of children and file the report on the next date of hearing on January 21 and in view of the serious averments made in the petition, the State is directed to take all measures including medical and provide all remedies to the affected people from tomorrow morning,” the bench said.

Senior advocate Rajiv Dhavan, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, said authorities were critical of the nodal officers on their alleged negligence and they will respond as it concerns the right to shelter.