"You rest in AC chambers and you want order from the court," the Supreme Court observed today, as it rapped the Kejriwal government for approaching it for resumption of water supply to Delhi instead of resolving the problem at government level.
The court made the observation when it asked the Haryana government to make the necessary arrangement for restoration of water supply to the national capital on an urgent plea by the Delhi government. The water supply has been disrupted due to the ongoing Jat quota stir.
Seeking a status report in two days from Haryana government, a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur and which also included Justice U U Lalit was initially reluctant to take up the plea of AAP government and rapped it for approaching the apex court instead of resolving the issue at government-to-government level.
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"You people instead of solving the problem at government- to-government level are moving Supreme Court. You want order from the Supreme Court. You want everything on a platter.
"You ministers are sitting in the court instead of going to the field. You rest in AC chambers and you want order from the court," the bench said while referring to the presence of Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra inside the court.
However, after repeated insistence from senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, appearing for Delhi government, the bench asked the Haryana government to make the necessary arrangement for resumption of water supply in the capital.
The counsel appearing for Haryana submitted that things are being taken into control and they were trying to ensure that water supply is resumed by today itself.
The apex court also issued notice to the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government over the plea by the AAP government.
The AAP government had yesterday moved the apex court for urgent hearing on its plea seeking Centre's intervention for uninterrupted supply of water from Munak Canal in Haryana, which is allegedly under siege of the Jat agitators demanding reservation.
The petition also sought that the Centre deploy the army to ensure supply of water from Munak Canal.
"Water should be supplied immediately to Delhi as it is the lifeline of the people," Delhi government standing counsel Rahul Mehra had yesterday said, adding all water plants in Delhi are shut as the protesters have "taken over" the canal.
Mehra had said the Lutyen's zone and several other areas are not getting water. "The army should ensure that Delhi gets water immediately," he had said.
Delhi has been facing water crisis following cut in its supply from Haryana due to the Jat stir.
(Reopens LGD13)
The apex court did not agree with the submissions of Delhi and Haryana governments over each other's claims that people from Jal Board were there at the sites where water has been blocked at the Munak canal.
"Supreme Court has nothing to do with this. It is the matter between government of Haryana and government of NCT. You (Delhi) say you all are not there and they say you all are already there," the bench said.
Dhawan, however, said the Delhi government was cooperating with Haryana and they are willing to extend their cooperation further over the issue.
He also sought the court's direction to ensure security and possible assistance to Delhi government staff who would visit the sites for restoration of water supply to the national capital, to which the bench agreed and asked Haryana to ensure their safety.
