State faces Rs 1 lakh fine over urban poverty panel

NEW DELHI: Meghalaya is among the nine states and union territories which are facing the wrath of the Supreme Court on Friday for not notifying the names of civil society members in their committees to take care of the needs of the urban homeless.
The Apex Court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on nine states and UTs and slapped Rs 5 lakh cost on Haryana.
A bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta slammed the states and UTs saying housing was a basic need for everyone.
“Housing is a basic need for everybody. When there is a policy of the Union of India, it has to be implemented by all,” said the bench, adding that people without shelter cannot be “left to fend for themselves,” it said. The other northeastern states which were penalised are Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. (IANS)