The Supreme Court on Thursday directed all states and union territories to ensure that no night shelter is demolished amid the biting winter cold. It slammed the Delhi Development Authority for demolishing two such facilities in the capital. A bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma ordered that they be rebuilt within three days. The bench issued the orders, taking suo motu cognisance of the news reports on demolition of two night shelters by DDA at Nehru Place and Kalkaji, forcing destitutes to brave the biting winter chill in the open. 64 night shelters were built by the Delhi government last year on the court's instructions. The apex court said that as a welfare state it is the duty of the government to ensure that not a single citizen across the country sleeps under the open sky in such intense winter. The bench also ordered DDA to launch a probe into the demolitions and identify the officials responsible for it. It directed DDA to take appropriate disciplinary actions against the officials responsible for demolition. The bench further asked Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran to visit one of the night shelters in the capital and find out first hand the conditions prevailing there. The directions were passed after senior Counsel Colin Gonsalves, appearing for People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) alleged that out of 64 night shelters, only 25 were operational and the remaining ones were defunct. He also submitted photographs to support his allegations.