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“Children, women, and old of the persecuted minorities migrated from Pakistan in the country are living in a heightened risk situation,” states the petition filed in Delhi High Court on Tuesday by one Sudhanshu S Singh, founder of an NGO named ‘Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) and others.

The petitioners, stating that it is the legal and moral responsibility of the Indian Government to take care of the minority people persecuted in Pakistan, have urged the High Court to issue directions to expedite the Citizenship Procedure for the persecuted minorities in the country and to provide protection and durable solution ensuring such victims of persecution a life of dignity.

Along with Mr. Singh, the list of petitioners involves persons belonging to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, who came to India prior to the year 2014 seeking Asylum and have been living in camps located in the NCT of Delhi in Majnu ka Tilla and Signature Bridge since then.

The petition reads that more than 700 people are living in the camp situated at Majnu ka Tilla alone. The persons living in these camps are deprived of even basic necessities such as water, sanitization, and hygiene. It further adds that the children, women, and old women and men have specific needs in the camp-like situations.

Highlighting the plight of the petitioners in the country, the petition states,

“The benchmarks of the effective and possible durable solution and protection measures for the persons living in Protracted situations, in refugee settlement areas for a long period of time have been given a complete go bye by the respondents.”

Mentioning that the Supreme court, following a writ petition earlier in 2018, has ordered the Delhi Government to provide basic facilities to the refugees residing in Delhi, the petition states that though the said order was ought to be followed by the Delhi Government in letter and spirit, has failed in providing any of it.

The petition also highlights that following the inactions of the State government, Mr. Singh wrote a letter in 2019 to the National Human Rights Commission which took cognizance of the matter and filed a complaint. After NHRC’s intervention the State Government through Dy. Director(Power) filed a report but it went on no further. It adds that even in the year 2020, following another complaint filed by the Petitioner, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued a notice to the District Magistrate, Alipur, North Delhi, and called for assistance to ensure the safety of the children in the camp.

“Till date no such arrangements have been made", states the petition.

Due to the non-redressal of the issue, the petitioners have sought relief from the Delhi High Court. The petition further pleads for the issuance of directions to the Government of Delhi and other respondents to involve the stakeholding Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) and NGOs in the decision-making process to meet the benchmarks of the durable solution.

(Case Title- Sudhanshu S Singh & Ors. versus Union of India & Ors.)