The Madras High Court issued notices on a plea seeking food and shelter for; dying, destitute and mentally disabled persons, living on the roadsides of Tamil Nadu. The PIL, filed by Advocate M Karpagam, stated that during the lockdown; a large population is living on the streets, stranded. He had thus prayed for such people to be provided with basic amenities, including shelter in Government homes.
“Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to provide adequate food and shelter to the dying destitute and mentally disabled persons, who are living and stranded on the roadsides and pavements in the State of Tamil Nadu and shift them to Government homes after conducting COVID 19 test to them,” the Petitioner prayed. Following the submissions, the Madras High Court bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and M. Nirmal Kumar issued notice to the State Government, returnable on May 21, 2020.
Meanwhile, a division bench comprising of Dr Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice R Suresh Kumar also heard a similar petition; seeking accommodation for migrant workers and roadside dwellers. The petition prayed, to convert private colleges and their hostels; as makeshift hospital and isolation wards to accommodate the migrant workers and roadside dwellers. As a measure to help the workers and dwellers and contain the COVID-19 spread.
