IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE PRESENT THE HON'BLE SRI DEVINDER GUPTA,THE CHIEF JUSTICE and THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NARAYANA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 11542 of 2001 Between: C.V.L.Narasimha Rao President, RAKSHA, 501 Gharonda Veera Apartments, Padma Rao Nagar Secunderabad ..... PETITIONER AND 1. Principal Secretary (Medical & Health Department), Government Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 Principal Secretary (Social Welfare Department) Secretariat, Hyderabad. 3 Commissioner (Social welfare Department) Telugu Samkshema Bhavan, Masabtank, Hyderabad. 4 Dist Collector (R.R.Dist) Hyderabad .....RESPONDENT(S) Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue an order, direction, or a writ more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus, calling connected to: 1) Death of a blind student who fell down from the Hostel Building, Government Hostel for blind, Bhavaninagar Dilshuknagar, Hyderabad and death which is said to have happened due to lack of safety grills etc., 2)Pathetic condition of the inmates of the Government Hostel for blinds due to sub-standard food, insufficient clothing, non supply of medicines potable drinking water etc and non- maintenance of hygienic conditions inside the hostel building and as well surrounding areas of the said Hostel building; Counsel for the Petitioner: Taken up writ petition Counsel for the Respondent No.1:G.P. for Medical & Health Counsel for the Respondents 2 to 4: G.P. for Social Welfare. The Court made the following Oral Order: (per Sri Devinder Gupta, CJ) On 29.11.2004, a detailed order was passed noticing the circumstances under which this petition was registered as Taken-up Writ Petition and the subsequent events which had happened. We also placed on record the valuable assistance rendered by Mr. P. Balakrishna Murthy, learned Senior counsel who took special interest in visiting the Government Hostel for Blind, Bhavaninagar, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad. After noticing the latest report submitted by Sri P. Balakrishna Murthy, learned Senior Counsel, the Bench had directed the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, to furnish the status report within four weeks as regards the condition of the hostel. Sri Ajoyendra Pyal, Principal Secretary to Government (Social Welfare Department), in his report dated 23.12.2004 has stated that he made a surprise inspection of the Hostel for Blind students in the Government Home for Blind at Bhavani Nagar, Dislukhnagar, Hyderabad and during inspection it was found that the Warden of the Hostel was not present and also noticed certain lapses in the maintenance of the Home for the Blind. The inmates represented that their grievances during his interaction with them. In his view, there was immediate need to take corrective action to improve the amenities to the blinds students in the said hostel. The report further states that the Government Home for Blind is under the administrative control of the Principal Secretary to Government, Women Development, Child Welfare and Disabled Welfare Department. The Commissioner, Disabled Welfare is the Head of the said Department. Principal Secretary has suggested that it is necessary to hold a meeting with the Warden, the concerned Assistant Director and the Commissioner, Disabled Welfare to discuss the steps to be taken immediately for improving the conditions. In view of the report of the Principal Secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department, we direct the Principal Secretary to Government, Women Development, Child Welfare and Disabled Welfare Department, to convene a meeting as proposed to fix responsibility on the Commissioner, Disabled Welfare to take all effective steps which are required to be taken for improving the amenities to the blind students in the Government Home for Blind at Bhavani Nagar, Dilsukhnagar. It is the obligation on the part of the State Government to ensure that such welfare measures for the benefit of all blind students are taken and also to ensure availability of all amenities and hygienic conditions for such blind students. The proposed meeting will be convened within a period of four weeks from the date of Writ Order from the Court. Thereafter, appropriate directions will be issued for improving the conditions and fresh inspection will be carried out by the Commissioner Disabled Welfare, who will submit his report to the Court within a period of four months thereafter. With this direction, we close this petition. Irrespective of the fact that the writ petition is closed, on receipt of the report, the file will be placed before the appropriate Bench for further orders. ______________________ DEVINDER GUPTA, CJ Date: 17th January, 2005 _______________________ M. NARAYANA REDDY,J Pnb To 1. The Principal Secretary (Medical & Health Department), Government Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2. The Principal Secretary (Social Welfare Department), Secretariat, Hyderabad. 3. The Commissioner (Social welfare Department), Telugu Samkshema Bhavan, Masabtank, Hyderabad. 4. The District Collector (R.R.Dist) Hyderabad. 5. The Principal Secretary, Women, Child welfare & Disabled Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. 6. The Commissioner, Disabled Welfare, Hyderabad. 7. Two C.Cs. to G.P. for Medical & Health, High Court of A.P., Hyderabad. (OUT) 8. Two C.Cs. to G.P. for Social Welfare Department, High Court of A.P. Hyderabad.(OUT) 9. Two C.Cs. to the Advocate General, High Court of A.P., Hyderabad. 10. Two C.D. copies