The Delhi High Court today pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to discharge the duty of ensuring cleanliness in the national capital.
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul directed MCD to file a status report showing how many safai karamcharis have been employed in each of the corporations under it and where are they posted.
"Your machinery is not working. You need to work on this. The counsel for MCD is directed to file a comprehensive report within one week from today," it said, while posting the matter for next hearing on November 26.
The High Court had on September 10 restored its earlier order to have the streets, public premises, drains and parks cleaned on a daily basis, including on Sundays and public holidays, in Delhi.
The petitioner NGO Nyaya Bhoomi had filed the restoration plea before the court alleging that government agencies have failed to improve the conditions in the city despite the Supreme court's observation in 1996 that the "historical city of Delhi, the capital of India, is one of the most polluted cities in the world".
Any sweeper not found present on his beat of duty can be awarded jail term up to 30 days by the municipal magistrates under Section 387 of the MCD Act.
86-year-old Sharan, representing the NGO, had pointed out the poor state of public toilets, infrastructure and facilities in health and educational institutions.
Highlighting the apex court's observations, the petition had said, "It (the Supreme Court) had issued 14 directions to MCD and NDMC to improve the conditions in the city and to maintain hygiene".
