MCD orders DUSIB to vacate temporary shelters in south Delhi schools before reopening
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to vacate government school buildings in south Delhi, including facilities in Green Park, Arjun Park, Gautam Nagar, and Humayunpur, which were being used as temporary shelter homes. The directive, sent in a letter dated June 30, comes ahead of the scheduled reopening of schools on July 1 after the summer break.
The decision follows safety concerns raised by teachers who objected to young students sharing school campuses with shelter residents. The MCD education department had originally permitted DUSIB to use the school buildings from May 15 to June 25 under the Summer Action Plan-2026.
The schools were initially handed over to DUSIB following a Delhi High Court directive. The court had emphasized the need to arrange temporary accommodation for homeless people and patients staying near major hospitals in south Delhi, including AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML, and Lady Hardinge.
While DUSIB had requested to use the schools until July 15, the MCD's education department rejected the extension. The June 30 letter clarified that the permission had expired on June 25, ordering DUSIB to clear the premises immediately to welcome returning students.
Teachers at four MCD-run schools in Green Park, Arjun Park, Gautam Nagar, and Humayunpur expressed serious apprehensions regarding student safety. They noted that most students in these schools are under the age of 10 or 12.
According to a teacher who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the lack of security guards at MCD schools makes managing open gates a major risk. Since the gates must remain open for shelter residents, teachers argued it would be extremely difficult to ensure the safety of the children inside.
A visit to two of the schools on June 29 revealed that one hall on each campus had been converted into a 25-bed shelter. Many of those staying in the shelters were patients undergoing medical treatment at nearby hospitals. At one school, preparations were already underway to remove 15 beds and return desks and chairs so the hall could be used for classrooms.
