SC raps Delhi govt, says go to field and solve water crisis

A Delhi government minister on Monday came in for strong rebuke from the Supreme Court for rushing to the court instead of contacting the Haryana government to restore water supply, which has been disrupted by violent Jat protests.

“You people, instead of solving the problem at government-to-government level, are moving the Supreme Court. You want order from the Supreme Court. You want everything on a platter. Your minister is sitting in the court instead of going to the field,” a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice U U Lalit said on being told that Delhi Minister and Chairman of Jal Board, Kapil Mishra was present in the court.

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, appearing for the Delhi government, submitted that the apex court needs to intervene as the national capital may face water crisis due to damage to the canal. He submitted that the minister was present in the court due to gravity of the situation.

“The Army has been called in. All that is possible is being done by the Haryana government. What is he (the minister) doing here,” the bench asked. “This is a matter of governance. Are you saying that the government has done nothing,” the bench further asked the counsel, favouring consolidated action from Haryana, Delhi and Union government to resolve the issue.


The court, which at one point dismissed the petition seeking intervention, relented after Dhawan pleaded against the rejection of the matter.

“We are concerned for the people. We believe this (agitation) is going to settle down soon,” the bench said, directing the Haryana government to file a status report within two days on a plea by the Delhi government, which sought the court’s intervention, alarmed over the impending water crisis in the national capital.

The court also asked the Union government to file its reply about the measures undertaken to repair the damaged Munak canal.

It also directed the Haryana government to ensure adequate security to engineers engaged in repair work.