Govt in favour of dissolving ‘abused’ leprosy complex

Reading out from a report by a committee formed by the government “to review the situation at the ground level,” Andley disclosed before the court that as compared to 194 people residing legally in the tenements built for leprosy patients,over 1,600 healthy people were living in the 74-acre complex. “The government is not opining on abandoning the Tahirpur complex,but abandoning the very idea of having such a complex in the city due to the severe change in situation,as disclosed in the report,” Andley said.

He further pointed at specific points in the report,arguing that government funds were not being used in Tahirpur for the target population because of encroachment and corruption.

Taking the report on record,Justice Misra asked the counsel whether any concrete policy had already been formed on the fate of Tahirpur. To this,Andley replied that the issue in hand was currently not to abandon the structure but to immediately evict those who had encroached upon the land by dubious means.

“We want the government to frame a comprehensive policy in six months on its proposed course of action vis-a-vis the Tahirpur Leprosy Complex. It cannot be done unless there is a policy formed after due deliberation,” the court said.

Addressing Andley’s imminent concern on the commercialisation of the complex,Justice Misra passed an order authorising the government to deal with encroachers with an iron hand. “In the meantime (while the government frames a policy),no commercial activity or any other activity not connected with the cure of the disease shall continue or take place in the complex,” it said.

Last year,the court had taken suo motu cognizance of the fact that the land meant for leprosy patients in the Tahirpur Leprosy Complex was being encroached upon by the land mafia. The Delhi government and the welfare department were asked to take action. The department,however,repeatedly bought time for inspecting and scrutinising the claims of those residing in the complex. The court then summoned the Director of the Social Welfare department,after which it was assured that the matter would be considered by the Delhi Cabinet. Subsequently,the Cabinet,in May,formed the committee — asking it to conduct a survey and file a report along with its recommendations.

The report also noted that encroachers in the Tahirpur Complex were reportedly being protected by the panchayats,local politicians and some professional litigants.