The Delhi High Court on Wednesday underscored that the right to shelter is a fundamental right of citizens and issued a slew of directions to government authorities in the national capital to ensure proper facilities for homeless persons and poor patients in Delhi for medical treatment during the ongoing cold wave.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said that the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) shall take over the subways near the government hospitals this evening and turn them into night shelters. 

Further, the Court said that a meeting shall be held tomorrow (January 15) under the chairmanship of the Principal District Judge (South District) to chalk out a short-term plan to be implemented from tomorrow itself to meet the current exigencies. 

The Court said that the meeting will be attended by senior officials of all the All-India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Harding Medical College, Delhi Police, DUSIB, Delhi Development authority and all the other stakeholders.