The Delhi High Court in the case Dr Akash Bhattacharya v. Delhi Disaster Management Authority through Chairperson Lt. Governor & Anr observed and has asked the Delhi Government for filing the detailed status report in a public interest litigation seeking immediate measures like free ration, medical assistance, sanitary provisions and other essentials for people at the Yamuna flood relief camps in the national capital. The Division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Saurabh Banerjee seek the response from the Delhi government in the petition moved by Akash Bhattacharya, who being the former Assistant Professor of Azim Premji University.
Therefore, it has been contended by Bhattacharya that the flood which had occurred in the Yamuna floodplain is the most devastating calamity occurred in Delhi since the year 1978.
The present plea is moved by Advocate KR Shiyas.
It has also been objected by the standing counsel, Santosh Kumar Tripathi appearing for the Delhi government that the PIL filed stated that the said plea was circulated in the media even before a hearing in the case which being without approaching the authorities and without visiting the flood area.
Adding to it, the court stated that the Government has already taken a decision to provide financial assistance to those affected by floods and that every flood relief camp has basic amenities. The court also asked the Delhi Government for filing the detailed response indicating the measures taken and basic amenities provided to the affected. The PIL moved also seek directions on the Delhi Government to notify the flood as a natural disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and also to provide immediate cash assistance for an amount of Rs. 50,000 for those who lost the belongings of them and the shelter.
The plea filed stated 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 court also stated that the Delhi Government has 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 will constitute a disaster as stated under the section 2(d) of the enactment.