Anushka Sharma-
Published On: November 24, 2021 at 12:29 IST
The Delhi High Court expressed its displeasure with the spread of dengue fever in the city on Tuesday, adding that its complaints about municipal staff’ lack of efficiency had ‘Fallen on deaf ears’.
A Bench led by Justice Vipin Sanghi stated that there was a ‘Significant increase’ in the number of dengue cases this year, which resulted in multiple Deaths, and requested an affidavit from the municipal body detailing the efforts taken to reduce mosquito reproduction.
The Court, who was hearing the South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s Appeal against the Delhi Government’s decision to seek retrospective recovery of grants-in-aid from municipal bodies, also stated that if “The situation on the ground does not improve,” it would not exercise its discretionary Jurisdiction in favour of the corporation and its employees.
While the Bench, which also included Justice Jasmeet Singh, has been dealing with the issue of corporations failing to pay their employees’ salaries, it cannot be stated that “Only salaries are paid but no work (is done).”
While it hoped that the municipal corporations would be doing their jobs properly in order to achieve the “Ultimate aim of making Delhi a world-class city,” the situation has only gotten worse, according to the report.
“On October 6, 2021, we had voiced our concern that while the municipal employees are clamouring for payment of their dues, the city was suffering on account of lack of efficient functioning of municipal employees It appears that the observations have fallen on deaf ears. Since October 6, 2021, when we passed the said order in a batch of petitions including contempt case, the situation in the city has only worsened,” the bench said.
The Court questioned whether the spread of dengue fever was ‘Rocket science,’ and demanded that the municipality detail its plan to combat the disease, as well as the number of people tasked with preventing it, as well as the number of infections this year and the rationale for any increase.
The Court also asked the corporation to place on record the steps taken concerning ‘Geo-tagging’ their employees and marking biometric attendance.
The issue concerning the spread of dengue would be heard next on December 1.
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