Failure To Deliver Food Kits In Containment Zones : Karnataka HC Summons BBMP Commissioner And ACS Urban Development Dept

The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued summons to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner and the Additional Chief Secretary of the State Urban Development Department to appear before the court through video conferencing on Tuesday over failure to deliver food kits in containment zones in the city.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Alok Aradhe observed :

"There are over 3,000 containment zones in the city and even after our order issued on June 25, the BBMP has not identified the needy in containment zones. This is a complete defiance of our orders. People will die without food, this is in complete violation of fundamental rights of the residents living in containment zones."

At one point the court even suggested that "It will pass a writ of mandamus directing the state to take over the management of BBMP as it has completely failed in meeting its statutory duty."

The bench added that the affidavit submitted by the authorities showed "Complete lack of sensitivity in dealing with people in Containment zones."

During the hearing, the BBMP informed the court that as per the list provided by the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) of needy persons, it has supplied ration kits to them.

However, on the query whether a survey was carried out to identify the needy in all containment zones, the counsel for BBMP said "efforts will be done".