Pulling up the government for its indolence to report about dismantling of the toilets along a water body in Handwara, the high court today directed the authorities to implement the order immediately or face contempt of court.
While hearing a Public Interest Litigation, division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjeev Kumar expressed dismay over violation of the order by the authorities concerned.
“Have you demolished the toilets? We want compliance. It is a serious issue. Why do you take it lightly? If there is no compliance by the next date of hearing, we will initiate contempt proceedings against the authorities concerned,” CJ Gita Mittal asked the state counsel.
In its earlier order, the Court had directed authorities to ensure the toilets which are in close proximity to water bodies are dismantled immediately.
The court had ordered the demolition after perusing the report by Member-Secretary of the State Pollution Control Board.
The report had indicated that the human excreta flowing into the water body causes multidimensional problems. “Faecal matter contains various types of pathogens which makes the water body unfit even for bathing,” the report had said.
“This position cannot be permitted to continue under any circumstances or at all,” the court had said.
“After demolition of the structures, these should not be permitted to be used in any manner for urination or defecation,” the court had said.