Close all illegal de-addiction centres: Court

New Delhi, Nov. 9: De-addiction centres running illegally in the national capital should be immediately shut down, the Delhi high court ordered on Thursday. A bench of Justices S. Muralidhar and I.S. Mehta said that since deaddiction centres are responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of its inmates, such activity ought to take place within the legal framework. “It is accordingly directed that if there is any such centre operating in the NCT of Delhi, then it should be inspected and if found to be running without the authority of law, should immediately be shut down,” the court said. It also noted that “unwanted elders are dumped” at such places that operate in the guise of old homes. The court directed the authorities to work out a scheme for mapping such places to ensure that no such centres, which run under the garb of rehabilitation or old age homes, operate without necessary permission and regulations. It directed the Delhi government, the three municipal corporations, the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Cantonment Board to constitute teams to carry out the mapping exercise. It said that while shutting down such a centre, the inmates in need of rehabilitation should be provided treatment in a state-authorised establishment and those detained there without their consent be given all assistance to reach their destination of choice.