Delhi: Shiv Sagar restaurant found 'guilty' of refusing food to street children, says SDM report

A magisterial probe constituted by Delhi government has found the restaurant in central Delhi's posh market area "guilty" of refusing to serve food to some street children at its premises, who were taken there by a Dehradun-based woman last week.

The report, submitted by sub-divisional magistrate (Chankyapuri), says the refusal by Shiv Sagar Restaurant clearly establishes "discriminatory behaviour" on the part of the eatery's management and staff against the underprivileged children on a socio-economic basis, which violates human rights and fundamental rights.

A Delhi government spokesperson said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is studying the SDM's report, adding, the government will take strict action against the restaurant's management as per the rules.

"It is evident that the children were denied food by the restaurant despite the fact that they were ready to pay for the same because they were 'poor and dirty'. This refusal clearly establishes discriminatory behaviour of the restaurant management and staff against the children on a socio-economic basis. Such an act violates human rights and fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India, and is against its spirit and essence," the SDM said in the report which was submitted to the government.

On June 12, the restaurant, located on Janpath near the Connaught Place, had allegedly denied entry to unprivileged children accompanied by the woman which had prompted the city government to order an
inquiry into the matter.

After the incident, Sisodia had termed the incident as an example of typical "colonial mindset" and said if the allegations against the restaurant were found true, its licence would be cancelled. Sonali Shetty, a writer, had taken some street children for a lunch to the restaurant. But, they were allegedly denied service by the staff of the eatery.

"I had taken eight underprivileged children for lunch to Shiv Sagar Restaurant but the staff there denied to serve us. I was also ridiculed and threatened to keep off the restaurant," she had alleged.