NEW DELHI
In a recent verdict, the Delhi High Court has instructed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to ensure that there is no illicit disposal of electrical, plastic, and medical waste in the capital city. This directive came from a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula.
The court’s decree stems from the case titled Court on Its Own Motion v. South Municipal Corporation Of Delhi And Others. Herein, the High Court emphasised the importance of strict enforcement of regulations set out in the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. Under the provisions of Section 416 of this Act, action must be taken against units that default on their responsibilities.
This case, initiated in 2020, was sparked by a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning pollution across various Delhi villages. This pollution was attributed to the illegal dumping of electronic, plastic, and medical refuse, as well as emissions from non-compliant industrial units.
The court reviewed a status report from the MCD which confirmed that no unauthorised burning of plastic waste was found in industrial zones without proper licences. The report also highlighted that areas previously under the jurisdiction of the North DMC did not have markets involved in large-scale plastic or PVC waste burning.
The High Court, having assessed all available information, concluded that the MCD must maintain rigorous adherence to environmental regulations. Additionally, units breaching these norms, especially those operating in non-industrial regions, must be dealt with within the next four months.