The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (January 9) dealing with the financial assistance being given to persons suffering with AIDS slammed the Delhi State Aids Control Society (DSACS) for rendering meager sum to the AIDS patients in Delhi.

The bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar directed DSACS to consider giving minimum wages to the AIDS patients.

“People who owns property, you are giving them free water, free electricity, why can’t you give facilities to these AIDS patients?” observed the bench.

During the course of proceedings, the bench while examining the outlay for the AIDS patients said: “You must address the needs of these people. You have an outlay of 38 crore but you disburse only 5 crore.”

The petitioner agreeing to the bench’s contentions presented some facts. The petitioner submitted: “Kerala and Gujarat provides various schemes to the AIDS patients such as free transport facilities etc. One can find on the website of NACO, the availability of various schemes but DSACS provides nothing except just 1000 rupees per month.”

The bench asked from DSACS: “Can you examine all this? How can they live on 1000 rupees, can you?”

The DSACS responded: “Yes we can and we can increase it to 2000 ruppees. In Delhi, there are 30,000 registered AIDS patients.”

DSACS sought time for replies to the issues flagged by the petitioner.

The bench posted the matter for next hearing to March 14, 2008.

—India Legal Bureau