'Shocks Conscience Of Court': Calcutta HC Raps Local Municipality For Inadequate Infrastructure For Supplying Water, Seeks State Gov's Intervention

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday expressed serious reservations to the submission of the Chakdaha Municipality, West Bengal that the municipality does not have adequate infrastructure to supply water for domestic use to the private houses beyond 60 feet from the main water connection of the municipality. 

Justice Shampa Sarkar observed, 

"Such submission of the learned advocate for the municipality has shocked the conscience of the Court to the extent that the Court feels that the intervention of the State Government in such a situation would be necessary as right to water is a sine quo non to right to live."

The Court was adjudicating upon a plea alleging that despite applying for water connection upon payment of requisite fees to the Chakdaha Municipality, such water connection had not been provided. Terming it as a 'shocking situation', the Court opined, 

"At this stage of a developing economy or a developing country, people in the locality under a municipality is not expected to go without water supply and the Court hopes that the authorities shall rise to this situation and take the matter more seriously."

Accordingly, advocate Debasish Ghosh appearing for the State was instructed to consult with the  Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal to resolve the dispute and subsequently file a report before the next date of hearing which is slated to take place on January 10, 2022. 

"The municipality will also explore the possibilities of finding a solution to the issue in hand", the Court directed further. 

Case Title: Arun Kumar Roy & Anr. State of West Bengal 

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