The Allahabad High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of severe waterlogging across Prayagraj and the non-implementation of the Government Order dated December 20, 2024, regarding the city’s ‘Drainage Master Plan’, observing that civic collapse hindering access to court directly interferes with the administration of justice. Addressing the crisis caused by heavy rainfall, a Single Bench of Justice Siddharth Nandan directed the registration of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for urgent hearing, while a Division Bench comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad summoned senior local officials and directed state authorities to file personal affidavits explaining approved preventive plans.
Background of the Case
Incessant rainfall over recent days resulted in extensive flooding across Prayagraj, bringing public life to a standstill. News reports in online tabloids, such as Amar Ujala, highlighted severe waterlogging in several prominent residential areas, including George Town, Tagore Town, Allahpur, Alopibagh, Bairahna, Rambagh, and Preetam Nagar. Residents in these localities were virtually under home arrest and unable to step out onto the roads. The civic failure extended to judicial infrastructure, with water accumulation in front of the Allahabad High Court’s Photo Affidavit Centre blocking litigants and advocates from accessing the premises to file urgent matters.
Arguments and Submissions
At 10:00 AM on August 18, 2026, members of the High Court Bar Association, including Senior Advocates Prabhakar Awasthi and Amrendra Nath Singh, brought the situation to the attention of Justice Siddharth Nandan. They submitted that advocates and their clerks could not reach the court or their offices to retrieve case files for listed matters. Senior Advocate Prabhakar Awasthi cited an instance where an advocate’s clerk fell off his bicycle due to potholes and deep water, leading to case files being damaged and spoiled in the water.
The Court was further informed that local administrative officials, including the Municipal Commissioner and District Magistrate of Prayagraj, expressed inability to address the issue because key drainage projects remain stalled at the state government level awaiting financial sanctions. A project for a catchment area over the Green Belt on M.G. Marg was approved by the Principal Secretary of the Urban Planning Department and the Chief Secretary, but funding remains pending before the Chief Minister’s Office.
Additionally, Senior Advocate Amrendra Nath Singh highlighted illegal encroachments over a natural catchment pond at the junction of Jawahar Lal Nehru Road and C.Y. Chintamani Road. He pointed out that ‘Sangam Petrol Pump’ as well as subsequent private and Nagar Nigam encroachments continue to operate on the pond area despite a past CBI inquiry and convictions. An Additional Chief Standing Counsel, residing in George Town, added that sewage water—rather than mere rainwater—had flooded 3,000 to 4,000 homes in George Town and Tagore Town, posing a severe health hazard and risk of disease outbreaks.
Court’s Analysis
Taking stock of the submissions, Justice Nandan emphasized that civic inaction directly obstructs the functioning of the judicial system, observing:
“This Court finds that it is a serious matter and in case the Advocates and their Clerks are prevented from coming to the Court and the records of the case files are being destroyed, it directly affects the Administration of Justice.”
In a parallel suo moto proceeding initiated on the same day, the Division Bench noted that civic waterlogging also caused severe difficulties for judges in reaching the court, delaying court sittings and directly interfering with the administration of justice.
Decision and Directives
In exercise of powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, Justice Nandan directed the Registry to register a regular Public Interest Litigation categorized under Re: Suo Moto Cognizance in the matter of non-implementation of the policy as per Government Order dated 20.12.2024 for the purposes of drawing up a ‘Drainage Master Plan’ and failure of the civic amenities in the district of Prayagraj City. The Registry was instructed to place the matter before the Chief Justice or Senior Judge for bench nomination and urgent hearing.
Meanwhile, the Division Bench directed the District Magistrate, Prayagraj, and Municipal Commissioner, Prayagraj, to appear in court in person, ordering:
“Let the District Magistrate, Prayagraj, as well as Municipal Commissioner, Prayagraj appear before this Court to explain to us as to why measures were not taken in advance to ensure that the city, particularly the low lying areas, do not get waterlogged.”
The Division Bench also directed the Secretary, Urban Development and Planning, Government of Uttar Pradesh, to file a personal affidavit explaining approved plans to prevent waterlogging, while asking Advocate General Ajai Kumar Mishra and Additional Advocate General M.C. Chaturvedi to assist the court on the next date of hearing, fixed for August 20, 2026.
Case Details:
Case Title: Suo Moto writ petition (In Re: Waterlogging in the City of Prayagraj) / In Re Waterlogging In The City Of Prayagraj Versus State Of U.P. Through Secretary, Urban Development And Planning And 2 Others
Case No.: Suo Moto Petition No. …… of 2026 / WRIT-C No. 33377 of 2026
