New Delhi:
Expressing concern over reports that 50 children had died due to cold and poor facilities at relief camps in riot-hit Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court today directed Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's government to take immediate steps and provide all help to those at the camps by tomorrow.
"We are very much concerned with media reports of children deaths. We read it in newspapers that Parliament also discussed this issue. We want to ascertain the facts. These people are in open camps and in the coming months it will be difficult for them. Provide all material help by tomorrow itself," Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam told the state government today while hearing a petition on relief and rehabilitation of riot victims.
The state government told the court that it has already formed a committee to look into the complaints after seven deaths were reported in October. But the CJI said he will consider setting up a Special Investigation Team if he didn't find the government's investigation satisfactory.
The court said it will hear the matter again on January 21 but directed the state government to provide blankets and other medical help to children and others at the camps within 24 hours.
Nearly 60 people were killed and 40,000 were left homeless in the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar three months ago. Around 4,000 people have refused to return home and are still living in the relief camps.
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