"Blatant Mockery Of Fundamental Right": Bombay High Court On Plight Of Villagers Getting Water Supply Twice A Month For Two Hours

"We are at pains to record that the abovenamed Petitioners are required to knock the doors of this Court after completion of 75 years of independence seeking direction against the Respondents to provide regular water supply to them since they are at present supplied water only twice a month, that too for approximately two hours," the court observed.

The court has now summoned the Commissioner of Police Thane and the Managing Director of STEM Water Distribution and Infra Company Pvt Ltd which is a joint venture of Zilla Parishad, Thane and Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation.

The petitioners, through Advocate RD Suryavanshi alleged that STEM was supplying water illegally to the political leaders, especially municipal councilors of Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation, tanker lobbies, industries in Bhiwandi and Thane and construction sites, earning lakhs of rupees against illegal supply of water.

Additionally, STEM is not interested in removing the illegal water tapping/connection and valves fixed on the main pipeline, they alleged.

During the hearing, the Deputy Engineer of STEM informed the bench that they were trying to resolve the issue but couldn't do so for various reasons. He submitted they had removed 3 illegal connections, however the court confronted him with a letter he wrote admitting there were 300-400 illegal water connections.

The engineer said that whenever an attempt is made to disconnect the illegal water connections, a mob of around 150 individuals gather at site and prevent them from disconnecting the illegal water connections or taking any action against their illegal activities.

The court said such a statement could not be accepted and posted the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

"This explanation cannot be accepted. It is the fundamental right of the Petitioners to get regular water supply as sanctioned by the Authorities and if the water supply is provided to them only twice a month for two hours, the same amounts to a blatant mockery of their fundamental right," the order

Case Title: [Shobha Vikas Bhoi & Ors. Vs The State of Maharashtra & Ors.]