The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the duty to prevent outbreak of diseases like dengue and chikungunya in Delhi is that of the local Government and it will step in only after the AAP dispensation fails in this task.
A PIl that was brought to Court by a city doctor Anil Mittal pointed out how the cases of dengue and chikungunya were on the rise and the municipal agencies and Delhi Government had failed to prevent its outbreak that has begun to take epidemic proportions.
The Bench of Justices Madan B lokur and DY Chandrachud was not in favour of entertaining a petition as it was already hearing a suo moto petition pending since last year where the apex court had taken cognizance of an incident where a Delhi couple committed suicide, upset over their failure to save their son, who died of dengue.
With both petitions commonly referring to the apathy of people in Delhi, be it the previous year or this year, the Bench decided to issue notice to Delhi Government and municipal agencies responsible for maintaining sanitation in the city. In addition, the Bench thought of issuing notice to the Centre too.
On hearing this, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who was present in the court in connection with another matter, set the record straight by clarifying that Delhi, although is a Union Territory, but maintaining sanitation and hygiene are subjects lying exclusively within the domain of the AAP Government in Delhi.
The A-G said, “It is the duty of the Delhi Government to ensure that city is kept clean and disease free. The Centre’s role only comes into play when the State fails in this duty.”
Mittal in his petition pointed out that till September 17, Delhi reported over 2600 Chikungunya cases of which 15 persons died. He annexed photographs to show pathetic conditions of hygiene and sanitation across the city which provides a good breeding ground for mosquitoes to carry the virus causing these diseases.
The Court allowed Mittal to withdraw his petition but kept the issue pending with it by calling for response of Delhi Government and civic bodies by September 30.