The Delhi High Court, on Friday, took a stern stance against the non-compliance of its directives concerning the maintenance of the city’s drainage system, issuing a contempt notice to two senior officials of the Delhi government. The notice underscores the court’s frustration with ongoing issues of waterlogging and the potential for flooding in the upcoming monsoon season.
Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet PS Arora, presiding over the bench, expressed dismay over the continued neglect, particularly of the Taimoor Nagar drain in southeast Delhi, which has remained clogged despite previous court orders to ensure its cleanliness. The court emphasized that the residents of Delhi should not bear the consequences of waterlogging due to administrative oversights.
During the hearing, it was revealed that despite the court’s clear instructions, the Chief Secretary had failed to convene a meeting with civic bodies to form a task force for addressing the issue. The court initially considered issuing a contempt notice directly to the Chief Secretary but held off at the behest of the Delhi government’s counsel.
Further dissatisfaction was directed towards K S Jayachandran, the Special Secretary of the Integrated Drains Management Cell, and the administrative head of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, who were both found to have disregarded court orders to remove obstructions and debris from the drains. “The violation is in the face of the court,” the bench stated, deeming the inaction a direct challenge to judicial authority.
The court’s frustration was palpable as it noted, “Clearly the orders of the court are not just being ignored but are being violated with impunity. The cost of these drains being clogged, allowing waterlogging, is to be borne by the residents of Delhi. The status cannot continue as it is, that too in blatant disregard of the orders of this court.”
In addition to addressing the drainage issues, the court also handled related petitions, including matters of water logging, rainwater harvesting, and traffic congestion during the monsoon. Furthermore, a plea from the residents of JJ cluster Madrasi Camp at Jangpura was discussed, concerning their eviction and the need for proper rehabilitation amidst infrastructure developments.
