Rights panel questions Faridabad authorities over 16-day water crisis in Sainik Colony
Panel invokes Article 21 right to life as it consolidates 14 complaints from Sector-49 residents
The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken serious note of an alleged prolonged water supply crisis in J&K Blocks, Sainik Colony, Sector-49, Faridabad, directing the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF), and the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA) to submit detailed reports on the status of drinking water availability in the area.
In an order dated August 7, Commission Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra consolidated 14 connected complaints — numbered 1739 to 1752 of 2026 — filed by residents alleging they have gone without regular potable water for 16 days, despite repeated representations to civic authorities.
What residents allege
According to the complaints, the tube well serving the locality has remained non-functional, while the Ranney Well — a key groundwater source for the area — supplied water only once or twice in the preceding month. Tanker supply arranged by authorities, the complainants said, falls far short of the estimated daily requirement of nearly five lakh litres for the area.
Residents further alleged they received contradictory explanations from officials about the cause of the disruption. They alleged they were compelled to repeatedly chase different departments simply to get updates. They said contact details for the officer concerned listed on the official website were incorrect — compounding hardships for senior citizens, women and children during peak summer.
Commission cites Article 21, Supreme Court precedent
The Commission held that the allegations, if correct, point to a failure of public water infrastructure and a lapse in institutional response, and said such deprivation could amount to a serious infringement of the right to life with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The order cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in AP Pollution Control Board vs MV Nayudu (2001) and Narmada Bachao Andolan vs Union of India, both of which held that access to drinking water is fundamental to the right to life. It also referenced the United Nations General Assembly’s 2010 resolution recognising safe drinking water as a basic human right.
What happens next
The Commission has directed the MCF Commissioner and FMDA CEO to file reports at least a week ahead of the next hearing, covering seven specific points: the current status of water supply in the affected area, reasons for the disruption, the operational status of the tube well and booster station, the status of the Ranney Well supply, adequacy of alternative arrangements such as tankers, action taken so far on residents’ complaints, and corrective measures to prevent recurrence.
The matter has been adjourned to September 2.
