LI Network
Published on: February 17, 2024 at 10:36 IST
The Delhi High Court has directed the Central government to promptly consider the proposal put forth by the Delhi government to raise fines from ₹500 to ₹5,000 for activities contributing to mosquito breeding.
This move aims to combat the surge in dengue cases in certain areas of the city, where incidents have risen by over 300%, as disclosed by the High Court Amicus Curiae.
Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, part of the Division Bench, have instructed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to submit a comprehensive status report within three weeks.
The report is expected to outline the number of dengue cases in all 12 zones of the national capital. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for March 19.
The High Court addressed the issue during the proceedings of two suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) petitions concerning mosquito-related problems in the city.
Amicus Curiae Rajat Aneja brought to the Court’s attention that, according to the latest MCD report, dengue cases have surged by 300% in specific zones of Delhi over the last three months.
The Bench acknowledged that the High Court has been actively monitoring the situation for more than three years, expressing concern that the cases have increased despite their vigilance.
The Court commented that their involvement has potentially prevented a more substantial rise, stating, “If we were not monitoring the issue, the cases would have risen by 3000%.”