Don't be complacent in managing dengue, Karnataka HC tells state, civic authorities

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has directed the state and civic authorities to avoid complacency in their responsibilities to provide healthcare facilities for citizens and to manage the spread of dengue.

The court stated that any individual, residential society, or housing complex found negligent in clearing stored water in containers, stagnant water, or solid waste that could lead to mosquito breeding will face significant penalties through establishment of appropriate rules.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind made these remarks while disposing of a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by the court due to a rise in dengue cases in Bengaluru last year.

"As far as dengue is concerned, since mosquito breeding is the primary cause, it is expected that the BBMP should evolve a continuous mechanism to check and control breeding of mosquitoes. The state and civic authorities should not remain complacent in discharging their duties to avail the medicare facilities for the citizens, to conduct and control the spread of the disease,” the bench stated.

The PIL was registered in July 2024, following a 'Letter to the Editor' published in a daily newspaper after the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy who collapsed at a temple and later died while on a ventilator.

In response, the BBMP reported that as of July 19, 2024, there were 5,794 dengue cases, a notable increase from 2,921 cases during the same period in 2023.

According to BBMP officials, this surge in dengue cases can be attributed to a prolonged dry spell followed by intermittent rains from February to May 2024, which led to increased water storage by residents.