SC Stays
Constructions in All States and UTs
New Delhi: All states and union territories,
including BJP-ruled Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, cannot have
any construction activity until they frame a solid waste management policy.
The Supreme Court on Friday, 31st August 2018 stayed construction
activities in these states, Chandigarh, and in all other states where the
governments have failed to frame policy on solid waste management.
"In case the States have the interest of the
people in mind and cleanliness and sanitation, they should frame a policy in
terms of the Solid Waste Management Rules so that the States remain clean. The
attitude of the States/Union Territories in not yet framing a Policy even after
two years is pathetic, to say the least," said a bench headed by Justice
Madan B Lokur.
The Court
thus ordered: "Further constructions in the States/Union Territories are
stayed until the Policy is framed."
Apart
from putting brakes on all kinds of construction, the top court slapped a
penalty of Rs 3 lakh each on states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and
Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh for not framing the policy and not complying with
the orders of the bench.
A cost of Rs 5 lakh was imposed on Andhra Pradesh for not being represented through a lawyer in the case.
The bench said that fine will be deposited with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within two weeks for utilization of juvenile justice issues.
"It is unfortunate that some States and Union Territories have not yet framed any Policy under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016...if they want the people to live in dirt, filth and garbage, what can be done then," lamented the Court, fixing October 9 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
The issue of waste management had cropped up when the court was dealing with a tragic incident of 2015 in which it had taken cognisance of the death of a seven-year-old boy due to dengue in Delhi.
The
victim was allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals here and his
distraught parents had subsequently committed suicide.A cost of Rs 5 lakh was imposed on Andhra Pradesh for not being represented through a lawyer in the case.
The bench said that fine will be deposited with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee within two weeks for utilization of juvenile justice issues.
"It is unfortunate that some States and Union Territories have not yet framed any Policy under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016...if they want the people to live in dirt, filth and garbage, what can be done then," lamented the Court, fixing October 9 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
The issue of waste management had cropped up when the court was dealing with a tragic incident of 2015 in which it had taken cognisance of the death of a seven-year-old boy due to dengue in Delhi.
The apex court had then taken suo motu cognisance of the episode and had been nudging the states to frame a solid waste management policy ever since. The last order was in July but many states and UTs still failed to come up with a policy.
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