Madhya Pradesh High Court wants to know from municipality why Jabalpur is still dirty, warns of fine

New Delhi (ILNS): The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation to submit a status report on the state of cleanliness in the city as of December 14. A fine will be imposed if the municipality fails to do so.

PIL Activist Rani Durgavati University Student Council convenor advocate Dheeraj Singh Thakur had complained to the court through a PIL that the condition of the city remains the same despite an earlier court order for a cleanup and development. The bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Yadav (Acting) and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla heard the plea which was presented before the bench by Advocate Vijay Kumar Maurya.

The counsel argued that despite the earlier directions of the High Court, the status of Municipal Corporation, Jabalpur remains the same. There is no concrete solution to prevent flooding. Cleanliness of the city also continues with slow pace of movement of the municipality. Piles of garbage have become a common sight in many places. Such negligence in the era of the Covid crisis is nothing short of inviting new forms of epidemic. Therefore, the High Court should strictly call for a status report from the Municipal Corporation.

Earlier, on behalf of the Municipal Corporation, the advocate Vishwamohan Bhardwaj insisted on being given time to submit the status report. The court accepted this demand with strict warning.  Deputy Advocate General Swapnil Ganguly appeared on behalf of the state.

After looking into the entire matter, the court also made the PIL Activist to realize its responsibility. Under this, the citizens were asked to fulfil the responsibility of educating more and more towards cleanliness.

The Court has directed the Authority to submit affidavit before the next which is fixed for hearing on December 14.

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