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HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 28th July, 2025
COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION .....Petitioner
Through:
Through: Mr. Manish Mohan, CGSC
Mr. Abhay Bansal, Advs. for UOI.
(M:8076529034)
Mr. Ripudaman Bhardwaj (CGSC)
(M:9818030700)
Mr. Ripudaman Bhardwaj, CGSC
Ms. Beenashaw Soni (SC, MCD)
Mr. Dhruv Rohatgi, Ms. Chandrika Sachdev and Mr. Dhruv Kumar, Advs. for GNCTD.
Ms Deeksha L Kakkar, Ms Prabhsahay Kaur, Standing counsel,
Rashneet Singh, Ms Sana Parveen, Mr Aditya Verma & Ms. Kavya Shukla, Adv.
Ms. Puja S. Kalra, SC
Ms. Beenashaw N Soni, SC, MCD
Joseph, Advs. (M:9810046611)
Ms. Priyam Mehta, Adv. for Applicant in CM APPL.47142/2024.
(M:9953032272)
JUDGMENT
5 WITH + W.P.(C) 9617/2022 COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION.....Petitioner Through:
VERSUS
GOVT.
OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS.....Respondents Through: Mr. Manish Mohan, CGSC with Mr. Jatin Teotia, Ms. Aishani Mohan & Mr. Abhay Bansal, Advs. for UOI. Mr. Ripudaman Bhardwaj (CGSC) with Mr. Kushagra Kumar and Mr. Amit kumar Rana, Advocates for UOI. Ms Deeksha L Kakkar, Ms Prabhsahay Kaur, Standing counsel, with Mr Rashneet Singh, Ms Sana Parveen, Mr Aditya Verma & Ms. Kavya Shukla, Adv. with Officers present VIpun AE for DDA. Mr. Dhruv Rohatgi, Ms. Chandrika Sachdev and Mr. Dhruv Kumar, Advs. for GNCTD. Mr. Ripudaman Bhardwaj, CGSC CORAM: JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
2. On the previous date of hearing i.e., on 5th May 2025, considering the serious allegations raised by the intervenor/environmentalist Mr. Pankaj Kumar in respect of a substantial portion of sewage by passing the STPs and entering the River Yamuna untreated, this Court vide order dated 5th May, 2025, had constituted a Special Committee to conduct onsite inspection of all the STPs. The mandate of the Committee in terms of the said order was as under:
3. Today, a final report, in respect of all the 37 STPs, has been filed by the Special Committee, primarily consisting of Ms. Vrinda Bhandari, Mr. Vivek Tandon as also Mr. Pankaj Kumar and Mr. Praveen Gupta. The said report has given a detailed analysis of all the STPs, their functioning, the various parameters of the STP tests, adherence thereto and the deficiencies, if any. A brief perusal of the report itself would show that there is an enormous quantum of work that needs to be undertaken in order to ensure that only treated water is discharged to the river Yamuna.
4. The agencies that need to look into the entire matter, including the Report of the Special Committee, are -
(i) Delhi Jal Board (hereinafter ‘DJB’),
(ii) Municipal Corporation of Delhi (hereinafter ‘MCD’) as also
(iii) Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development
(iv) Delhi Pollution Control Committee (hereinafter ‘DPCC’).
Accordingly, let the Committee’s report be circulated to all counsels appearing for the agencies, namely, DJB, MCD, DSIIDC and DPCC.
5. The contents of this report also show that a substantial amount of work has been undertaken by the Committee. There are various shortcomings that need to be addressed and certain further elaborate steps to be taken as well. In order to understand the steps that need to be taken by various agencies, it is deemed appropriate to direct members of the Special Committee to hold a meeting with all the above agencies on 7th August, 2025 at 4:00 PM in the office of Mr. Bhupesh Kumar, Chief Engineer, Sewage Disposal Works, DJB, Room no 609 Varunalaya Phase II New Delhi. The said meeting shall be attended by the relevant officials of DJB, MCD, DSIIDC as also the DPCC, as also any other authorities or agencies whose cooperation would be required.
6. After the said meeting, the officials may agree to hold further meetings in this regard, if necessary and finally, the DJB and MCD shall file their joint report and the action plan for addressing various shortcomings, deficiencies and improvements as pointed out by the Special Committee. Insofar as flow meters are concerned, Ms. Bhandari submits that most STPs have the flow meters, but the question as to whether these are working efficiently or not would be a doubtful question, on which aspect as well the DJB will deal with in its report.
7. The Court at this stage is informed that the fees of the Local Commissioners are not fully cleared, both in respect of STPs and CETPs. Considering the enormous efforts taken and valuable inputs given vide the final report, this Court is of the clear opinion that such delay in clearing the fee cannot be accepted. In view thereof, let the same be cleared by the DJB or DSIIDC or any other concerned authorities within a period of two weeks.
8. Ms. Bhandhari also submits that the final report, insofar as the CETPs are concerned, has not yet been filed. Let the same be filed and brought on record before the next date of hearing.
9. List on 11th September, 2025 at 2:30 PM.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUDGE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA JUDGE JULY 28, 2025/dk/Ar.