‘HC can monitor drinking water in public places’
Though agreeing with a PIL that citizens have a right to have free drinking water in public places as a "right to life", the Supreme Court on Monday expressed its inability to monitor the problem as providing the drinking water is a state subject.
A bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar was of the view that the high courts in different states were in better position to monitor the problem and make the state governments and local authorities accountable to provide this basic need to the common man.
"We are fully conscious of the fact that even after 60 years a citizen of this country is not getting clean potable water. In this regard, we agree with the petitioner. It is, however, not possible for this court to monitor and grant relief(s) to the petitioner on all India basis," the bench in an order said while disposing the PIL filed by Dhanesh Ishdhan.
"In the circumstances, we are of the view that the petitioner may move the concerned high courts with regard to its grievances, particularly, when such grievances are confined to municipal areas and to specific areas where citizens do not get clean potable water for drinking," the top court said. Mr Ishdhan said that the issue is linked to the "right to life".
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