Delhi HC Criticizes Civic Agencies Over Drain Deaths of Mother Child Duo

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sharply criticized the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for its handling of a tragic incident in East Delhi’s Ghazipur, where a mother and child died after falling into an uncovered drain.

Acting Chief Justice Manmohan expressed grave dissatisfaction with the MCD’s performance and suggested that the case might prompt a recommendation to dissolve the MCD due to persistent inefficiencies. The court noted criminal negligence by civic authorities and emphasized the need for accountability.

The court has instructed the MCD to submit a new status report, including photographs, within a week. It also ordered the Delhi Police and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to provide status reports to offer a comprehensive update on the situation.

The Deputy Commissioner of Shahdara South Zone assured the court that immediate action would be taken to clean the problematic drain. However, the court has yet to determine whether the DDA or MCD is responsible for the incident, pending a police investigation.

The High Court bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, expressed serious concern about the Ghazipur incident and criticized the broader civic management issues.

The DDA claimed that the body was found near their drain, but the area in question is under the MCD’s jurisdiction. The plea also seeks accountability from the contractor responsible for the drain and a comprehensive audit of ongoing drain construction projects, including flood mitigation measures.

The petitioner, Jhunnu Lal Srivastava, called for immediate policies to address flood-like situations and the covering of all open drains in Delhi with proper signage to ensure public safety.

The tragic deaths of Tanuja (22) and her child Priyansh (3) occurred after heavy rainfall on July 31. The plea alleges that the DDA violated its own 1986 circular, which mandates that no manhole should be left uncovered to prevent such accidents. It argues that the lack of a flood management policy and uncovered drains compromise the health and safety of Delhi’s residents, leading to frequent fatalities.