The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has taken a significant step in addressing the plight of the homeless in the city by forming a team of young lawyers to conduct an in-depth investigation.

This initiative comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Jyoti Rajpoot, which draws attention to the dire conditions faced by homeless individuals in Lucknow.

During a hearing on August 29, 2024, Justices Rajan Roy and Om Prakash Shukla expressed dissatisfaction with the state authorities' progress in tackling homelessness. Despite some responses from the authorities, the court noted a lack of comprehensive data on the issue. The Additional Chief Standing Counsel, Isha Mittal, acknowledged the challenge of collecting extensive data but emphasized the need for immediate action, given the continued visibility of homelessness in the city.

To address this gap, the court has assigned a team of young lawyers, including Raj Kumar Singh, Shailendra Singh Rajawat, Jitendra Narain Mishra, Vikas Kumar Agrawal, Rani Singh, and Shreya Agarwal, to collaborate with Rajpoot. Their task is to visit areas in Lucknow where homeless individuals are known to reside and compile detailed information on their conditions.

The court has instructed that the findings be promptly shared with Adv Mittal, who will then relay the information to relevant officials for swift action. The authorities are required to submit an affidavit detailing their compliance with the court's directives before the next hearing scheduled for September 30, 2024. Additionally, Adv Mittal has been tasked with ensuring that the order reaches the District Magistrate, Commissioner of Police, and Chief Medical Officer of Lucknow. The court has emphasized the urgency of addressing this pressing social issue.

Case Title: Jyoti Rajpoot  V. State Of U.P. Thru. Addl. Chief Secy. Social Welfare Deptt. Lko. And Others