New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS): The NHRC Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi government over the deaths of some homeless people due to cold, charging the state with failing to "make a shelter plan and a policy for the homeless persons despite directives from the High Court and Supreme Court".

"In one of the reports dated Jan 19, it was stated that six people died around Kashmere Gate in north Delhi.Another report says that due to the absence of adequate night shelters, 12 homeless people died in the last 24 hours," said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the panel observed that the contents of the news stories, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights and issued a notice to the Delhi chief secretary, seeking a report within two weeks.

The NHRC had sent a similar notice Jan 15 following the death of two homeless people.

The AAP government in Delhi had promised sufficient night shelters and its ministers even conducted raids and inspections of these shelters for a few days after coming to power last month.