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Taking note of the status report by Delhi government, the bench said, “no further court orders were required”
Noting the steps taken by the authorities to provide succor, the Delhi High Court on Thursday closed the proceedings in a petition seeking relief measures for those affected by the flooding of the Yamuna River earlier this year.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula said that “no further court orders were required” and disposed of the plea.
The Delhi government, in its status report, stated that not only were relief camps established in buildings, schools and community centres but financial assistance of Rs 10,000 was also provided to over two thousand families affected by the floods and NDRF was deployed for rescue, and relief operations.
The bench recorded that an apex committee is in existence besides a central control room to deal with flood situations and numerous steps were taken to deal with the flooding. It also noted that as per the report, food and other amenities were provided at 47 relief camps by the state government. Various NGOs and Bangla Sahib Gurudwara also lent a helping hand, it noted.
"In light of the status report, no further order is required. PIL stands disposed of," the court ordered.
The plea moved by Dr. Akash Bhattacharya, a former Professor of Azim Premji University sought directions to the Delhi government to notify the flood as a natural disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and also to provide immediate cash assistance of Rs. 50,000 for those who lost their shelter.
The professor filed the plea through Advocate KS Shiyas, and through the plea he contended that the flood that happened in the Yamuna flood plain was the most devasting calamity that occurred in Delhi since 1978.
“That the lackadaisical response from authorities cost the livelihood of hundreds of poor and destroyed their sole shelter which contained household items to important documents which proves the existence of the concerned”, the plea stated.
It further stated that the Delhi government had a constitutional as well as statutory obligation to provide immediate assistance to the victims of natural calamity under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and that the flood would constitute a disaster under Section 2(d) of the Act.
Case Title: Dr. Akash Bhattacharya v. Delhi Disaster Management Authority through Chairperson Lt. Governor & Anr.
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