HC asks municipal administrator to look into Zirakpur’s tap water supply issue

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked Zirakpur municipal council’s administrator to take a decision on a resident’s grievance over non-supply of tap water to the flats located within its jurisdiction even after two decades of occupation. The Bench made it clear that the municipal authorities must first decide the issue before the court proceeds with any adjudication.

“It would be appropriate that the municipal authorities decide the issue first, before this court embarks upon the process of adjudication qua the same,” the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel asserted while disposing of the petition filed in public interest.

The matter was brought to the Bench’s notice after a petition was filed by Kuldeep Kumar of Sunny Enclave in Zirakpur. He submitted that tap water supply had not been provided by the municipal authorities to the residential units despite occupation of the flats as far back as 2020.

“Despite occupation of the flats since 2020, no tap water supply is being provided by the municipal authorities though the flats fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipal council, Zirakpur,” the petitioner told the Bench.

His counsel contended that the area clearly fell within the territorial jurisdiction of Zirakpur municipal council, which was currently headed by Mohali Deputy Commissioner (DC) in the capacity of administrator.

Taking up the matter, the court directed that the petitioner’s representations be decided by the administrator by passing a speaking order within three weeks. The Bench also made it clear that the decision was required to be duly communicated to the petitioner.

Before parting with the order, the Bench asserted: “The administrator is well-advised that in case the grievance of the petitioner is found to be genuine, the remedial steps be also taken.”

Advocate Vaibhav Vats appeared for the petitioner, while Senior Deputy Advocate-General Salil Sabhlok represented the state of Punjab.