Sat Feb 15 18:28:31 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Justice’s Remarks on Homeless Spark Outrage
**Chennai, February 16, 2025** – Over 300 activists and non-profit organizations have condemned comments made by Supreme Court Justice B.R. Gavai regarding homeless individuals. During a February 12th hearing on the lack of night shelters in Delhi, Justice Gavai reportedly referred to the homeless as “parasites,” suggesting their unwillingness to work stemmed from receiving freebies during elections.
The activists’ statement strongly criticized the judge’s remarks, characterizing them as displaying “an anti-poor bias.” They emphasized the crucial role the homeless play in the informal urban economy, asserting that their contributions are essential to city development. Dismissing them as unproductive due to freebies, the statement argued, reflects the insensitivity of the privileged.
The statement highlighted the precarious living conditions and alarming mortality rates among the homeless population. Citing Delhi Police data, it revealed that over 750 unidentified bodies, almost all believed to be homeless individuals, have been found in Delhi since November 15, 2024—an average of nearly 10 deaths daily. The activists called for societal responsibility and institutional action to protect the most vulnerable, rather than blaming and shaming them.
First Piper 