Chandigarh, Jan 11, 2024 (KULBIR KALSI)
Chandigarh Administration has slapped a Show Cause Notice upon all the inmates of the erstwhile Cheshire Home along with other physically challenged inmates asking as to why they should not be evicted from the premises, under the stringent Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.
It is to be noted that the inmates which includes a team of wheelchair cricketers that has brought laurels for Chandigarh time and again in the sporting arena are living in House No 341, Sector 21-A, Chandigarh .
It is pertinent to mention here that the SDM (East) Chandigarh at the behest of the Social Welfare Department of UT Chandigarh has named twenty five inmates residing at the Sec 21 A , 2 kanal house in the show cause notice.
These men and women, born physically challenged to various degrees, and hailing from the weaker sections of society, who earlier were the residents of the erstwhile Cheshire Homes, Chandigarh in the year 2015, then situated in Sector 15, were shifted to the present premises in Sector 21-A with the knowledge and consent of , Chandigarh Administration where they were being taken care of.
The Chandigarh Administration used the erstwhile Cheshire Homes and its inmates, many times for endless photo opportunities, but in reality did not spend a dime for their welfare, rather it were some stern observations and subsequent perpetual directions issued by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 04/05/18, while hearing a Civil Writ Petition relating to a Disabled Child clear directions were given about 341, Sec 21 A cheshire home , that finally woke up the Chandigarh Administration to provide the inmates with basic amenities.
Till the high court order the inmates were neglected and there was no care of the property as the idea was to create insanitary conditions, lack of water and electricity so that the inmates are forced to leave.
“The inmates have tried time and again to interact and share with the Department of Social Welfare their concerns but in vain. The department has never responded to them in a transparent and kind manner by offering assistance or help .
It seems there is an ulterior motive as the effort is to remove the residents by some or other pretext and the focus has been only on finding material to prove they are illegal and unauthorised occupants since the said ‘kothi’ is a 2-kanal prime property worth crores,” said Sharmita Bhinder, Founder of Empower NGO which has been taking up the cause of the inmates.
The Chandigarh Administration had earlier decided to make 341 , 21 A a home for mentally challenged by displacing the physically challenged now it has decided to set up the home for the Mentally Challenged in a 2 acre plot situated on the GRIID Campus, Sector 31, Chandigarh, which is slated to be completed sometime next this year.
“Where will the inmates go and what other residential plans does the Administration have for these physically challenged people?” asked Bhinder.
“What law can be so insensitive to the needs of humans, people who struggle every step of their day in carrying out even their daily routine on account of their inherent, physical disabilities, and all this is happening many years after our country has passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 which is meant to take better care of, provide equal opportunities and an equitable environment to disabled persons,” bemoaned Sharmita, who is an active civil rights activist.
“This strict act has been applied and they are being called illegal occupants and encroachers whereas the social welfare department is fully aware of their presence and has not provided any assistance in organising an alternative permanent residence.
The callous show cause notice needs to be withdrawn as, where will these inmates who are physically challenged go in the peak of winters?” questioned Sharmita.
