Gauhati HC directs Assam govt to provide portable water supply to Shelter homes

The Gauhati High Court on Friday directed the Assam government to provide portable water supply to the shelter homes with immediate effect.

The decision comes after a report was submitted by senior advocate B. D. Konwar, who had visited the rehabilitation camp in Assam’s Hojai district on April 20 following the Gauhati high court’s instructions.

The report indicated that there is a lack of proper drinking water facilities in the rehabilitation camp.

Read the court order here:

Following which, the Gauhati High Court slammed the Assam government over ‘inhuman’ treatment in the rehabilitation camp.

Gauhati HC Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta called it “inhumanity of the highest order.”

“How long can you keep people like cattle in temporary shelters built of tarpaulin?” Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta further questioned state government advocate D Nath.

The camp houses nearly 350 families displaced in an eviction drive in November 2021.

The Court also asked Advocate D. Nath to provide the exact number of similar shelter camps in the entire state of Assam where the people who have been displaced on account of eviction drives are being housed.

The statistics would include the gender-wise distribution as well as the number of children sheltered in all these camps.

“He shall also instruct the concerned authorities to immediately address the issues highlighted in the report,” the court order read.

According to the report, the counter affidavit with the requisite details will be placed on record within the next ten days.

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