Swarna Shukla –
Published On: December 2, 2021 at 20:50 IST
The Delhi High Court pulled up the Municipal Corporation for their failure to control the spread of dengue which has been prevalent in Delhi. The Court said that there is a complete paralysis in civic administration as no one is worried about the death tolls.
The Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh angrily stated, “This is a sorry state of affairs in the National Capital. It is a disillusion. There is a complete paralysis in civic administration as no one else is bothered about the deaths. They do not bother, this the attitude. The Officials are living with the attitude that since there’s large population, the disease will come and go.”
The Delhi High Court further appointed an Amicus Curiae to help in the matter including disease like malaria, dengue and chikungunya and submit a report to Chief Justice who is also dealing with another Suo Moto Petition on the drawback of mosquito breeding.
The Bench further agreed with the Counsel of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) that person’s living in the society don’t listen unless there’s deterrence and it’s not Court’s job to increase the challan amount which is at present Rs. 500.
When SDMC Counsel and its Deputy Health Officer said the reason for increasing cases dengue is because of inevitable rains to which the Bench said that the authorities should have correspondingly increased the manpower and machine.
Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi Government expressed reservation on the suggestion of appointing a Central Government Officer, who is an expert in this field.
The High court, which was hearing SDMC’s plea against the Delhi government’s decision to seek retrospective recovery of grants-in-aid from municipal bodies, had also clarified it would not exercise its discretionary jurisdiction in favour of the corporation and its employees if “the situation on the ground does not improve”.
Cabinet decision of January 2019, directing retrospective recovery of grants and aid from the petitioner and other local bodies with effect from April 2016.SDMC has contended that the decision is arbitrary and void and sought a direction to the Delhi government to refund the amounts consequently deducted.
On October 6, while dealing with a batch of petitions relating to non-payment of salaries and pensions to certain municipal employees, the court had expressed its displeasure at the state of cleanliness and upkeep of the national capital.