The Delhi High Court in the case Refrigerated Water Licensees Association (Regd) And Anr vs. Commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Ors and has directed the Municipal Corporation of South Delhi to continue initiating prosecution and to carry out regular raids against the individuals who are selling contaminated water or beverages which include soda and shikanji water on the roadside.
The division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad in the case observed and has directed the civic body in order to ensure that the hawkers are being prohibited from selling of such contaminated water or beverages on the roadside.
The bench in its order stated that the Respondent in the case must continue to carry out regular raids, confiscate illegal material, and proceedings are to be initiated against individuals who are engaged in the selling of selling contaminated water or from passing of any contaminated beverages as Shikanji, Lassi, the coloured drinks, soda water, lemon soda, cut fruits, sugarcane juice, Jal Jeera and Ruhafza, Kanji bottle etc.
In the present case, the court was hearing the public interest litigation moved by Refrigerated Water Licensees Association, the registered association having more than 300 water cooling units, wherein seeking for a total ban on the sale of the contaminated water by unlicensed roadside hawkers and the artificially flavoured colour drinks which are being made from harmful chemicals and substances.
Therefore, last year, in the month of November, the common status report filed by MCD wherein it is submitted that regular action is being taken against persons who are running unauthorized business of sale of water through the unlicensed water trolleys, the unlicensed sugarcane juice shops, the water cooling plants and through other products which are being made from water.
It has also been noted by the court that the civic body has been from proactively taking action with the assistance of police against the illegal dissemination of contaminated water or artificially flavoured colour drinks which are being made from harmful chemicals and substances in all the prevalent zones.
Further, the court stated that the Respondents had been taking such action from the year 2018 itself. Thus, the said court does not find it necessary to furnish further status or action taken reports from the Respondents.
Accordingly, the court disposed of the public interest litigation.