Inmates at Delhi De-Addiction Centres Physically and Sexually Tortured: Report
New Delhi: A report in the Indian Express has highlighted rampant irregularities and torture of inmates that are prevalent at New Delhi's de-addiction centres. An inspection report submitted by Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) in the High Court on June 1 revealed how inmates are being ill-treated, subjected to sexual and physical torture, asked to perform sexual favours, and are not allowed to contact their families. The report also alleged some inmates have allegedly died from the torture they were subjected to.
According to the Indian Express, the DSLSA report mentions incidents of inmates being beaten with sticks and verbally abused. The report also found centres to lack in basic infrastructure and hygiene, shining a light on the absence of maintenance and minimum standards of hygiene.
On May 3, the court had directed DSLSA to conduct these inspections while hearing writ petitions on these “unregulated” de-addiction centres. Responding to the study, the High Court reportedly said: “The right of basic human dignity of persons desperately in need of care and treatment is being violated with impunity.”
As per the report submitted by advocate Sumer Kumar Sethi, the DSLSA interacted with over 2,000 inmates across 96 centres. “At some of the centres, the teams constituted by DSLSAs faced security threats and even had to seek police protection to be able to carry out the inspections,” said Sanjiv Jain, member secretary, DSLSA, in the report.
The Hindustan Times quoted the bench comprising Justices S. Muralidhar and I.S. Mehta as saying the “right to basic human dignity of persons desperately in need of care and treatment is being violated with impunity”. The bench termed the revelations as "most shocking" and said that such incidents have to be stopped immediately.
Earlier this month, A 29-year-old man at a drug de-addiction centre in the national capital was allegedly beaten to death by a caretaker and two others, for defecating in the open at the centre. Following the incident, the Hindu had carried a report on the dire conditions of the centre.
The Indian Express quoted official sources as saying that an inter-sectoral coordination committee, under the Delhi government’s Health and Family Welfare department, was “in the process of notifying minimum standards” for running such centres.
The court has fixed July 12 as the next date of hearing to review the situation.
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