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The Delhi High Court on Monday directed government authorities to ensure that water bodies in the national capital are not encroached upon and strict surveillance thereof be maintained.

The direction of the court was issued in a petition filed by one, Rahul Dabas, who complained of encroachment of two water bodies in Delhi, i.e., a pond measuring 12 bighas and 18 bighas.

He claimed that the said ponds were not being maintained by the government authorities, particularly the Delhi Development Authority. He placed on record several photographs, on the basis of which the bench remarked that there was nothing to suggest that the ponds were being used as waterbodies. 

Thus, the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta directed the respondent authorities to ensure that water bodies are not encroached upon and whatever existing encroachments there are must be removed. 

The authorities have been directed to take appropriate steps within the next month, considering that the monsoon would commence in the latter part of June. Court has also directed the authorities to file a status report indicating the condition of the water bodies and the steps taken to ensure their protection. 

On further insistence of the petitioner, Court also directed the state to survey water bodies and take photographs of their current plight and place the same before the court within the next week. The matter has been posted on November 25 for further hearing. 

Case Title:- Rahul Dabas v Union of India