COVID-19: High Court Dissatisfied Over Delhi's Steps For Helping Persons With Disabilities, Orphan Children, Senior Citizens

The court said past inactions cannot be discounted and said it will again the take up the issue on Thursday.

The Delhi High Court Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over steps taken by the Delhi government for helping differently abled persons, saying people with disabilities, orphan children and senior citizens were neglected and there is a need to look after them in the COVID-19 pandemic and gave it three days to come out with the result. The court, which was informed that there is no helpline for persons with disabilities, said a lot of NGOs are working on the ground for disabled persons and the government should involve them and provide them with funds and the nodal officer should coordinate with these organisations. A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh said, "as of now it is totally dissatisfactory, absolutely dissatisfactory. Why do you need prodding from us." The bench noted the submissions made by advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, representing Bachpan Bachao Andolan, that she had participated in a meeting with the officials of Departments of Health and Family Welfare and Social Welfare on May 13 but little progress has been made on implementation of steps to be taken in the interest of orphan children, disabled persons and senior citizens who are affected by the pandemic.