Kerala HC Suo Moto Directs Kochi Corporation To Detail Steps For Clearing Filth From Drains Following Food Poisoning Of Children In Anganwadi
The Kerala High Court directed the Kochi Municipal Corporation to file an affidavit showing steps initiated to clear filth from city drains and prevent plastic and waste dumping into drains, rivers, and backwaters following the incident of food poisoning of children at an Anganwadi. The High Court initiated the case suo moto.
A special sitting of the Division Bench was necessitated on account of a news broadcast by the visual media outlining the food poisoning of a few children at an Anganwadi at Ponnurunni. The news visuals indicated a drainage that ran adjacent to the Anganwadi, filled with filth to the brim. “It is an embarrassment for the whole city, to witness such accumulation of filth without being removed,” the Court remarked.
A Division Bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice Gopinath P. directed, “The Secretary of the Kochi Corporation or the person in charge shall file an affidavit as to the steps being initiated to clear the filth from the drains in the Cochin city and also to prevent dumping and accumulation of plastic and other wastes into the drains, rivers and backwaters.”
Senior Advocate Ranjith Thampan and Advocate General K. Gopalakrishna Kurup appeared for the Respondents.
“The news visuals indicated a drainage that runs adjacent to the Anganwadi, filled with filth to the brim,” the Bench noted.
The Kochi Corporation submitted that Ponnurunni was considered one of the well-maintained divisions of the Corporation. They submitted that they were verifying the reason for the food poisoning as well as the accumulation of filth in the drain.
“Quite often, we have been indicating to the Government the necessity of keeping track of the mode in which the waste is being disposed off by agencies who are collecting the waste. It is an alarming situation that waste generated in Kerala is disposed off in the neighbouring State, haphazardly and contrary to the legal requirements. Such instances are to be avoided,” the Court remarked.
Consequently, the Court also directed the Secretary of the Local Self Government to file an affidavit regarding “the agencies who have been engaged in the collection and disposal of wastes from local authorities and other bulk waste generators, including hospitals, and the steps initiated to track the mode and the manner in which such agencies dispose off the wastes so collected.”
Accordingly, the High Court listed the matter for further hearing on January 10th, 2025.
Cause Title: In Re: Suo Motu Writ Petition Initiated By The High Court
Appearance:
Respondents: Senior Advocate Ranjith Thampan; Advocate General K. Gopalakrishna Kurup; Standing Counsel K. Janardhana Shenoy, T. Naveen and Antony Mukkath; Special Government Pleader C.E. Unnikrishnan; Senior Panel Counsel T.C.Krishna; Central Government Counsel K.S.Prenjith Kumar; Advocates Suman Chakravarthi; Amici Curiae Vinu T.V., Vishnu.S and Pooja Menon