HC orders serving notice to Jalna municipal commissioner

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice Mangesh Patil and Justice Prafulla Khubalkar has issued notices to the State Government, Jalna Municipal Commissioner, District Collector, and the Divisional Commissioner of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The order has been given in response to a ‘public interest litigation’ (PIL) filed highlighting a threat posed to the lives and health of citizens due to the lack of adequate civic amenities in Jalna city. The next hearing on this PIL will be held after eight weeks (post-summer vacation).

What is the petition?

The PIL was filed by Baburao Nagojirao Satkar through Adv. Balbhim Kedar, with the primary demand that the municipal corporation should provide adequate civic amenities to protect the health and lives of the residents of Jalna city.

In 2023, the status of the former municipal council was elevated to a municipal corporation, yet it has failed to supply clean drinking water. The water tanks have no covers, there are piles of garbage throughout the city, and the drainage system is in disrepair. Besides, slaughterhouses exist within city limits, and animal remains are dumped nearby, which attracts a large number of stray dogs. These dogs often chase and bite pedestrians.

Furthermore, potholes and encroachments have increased on the roads. There are electric poles placed in the middle of the roads, with no caution signs, reflectors, or lights on them, making them a major cause of accidents. The petitioner highlighted many other civic issues in the petition.

Municipal Commissioner to be held responsible for three deaths

The petition cites three incidents of fatalities due to municipal negligence:

1. On September 23, 2024, police constable Jitendra Bodkhe died after colliding with an electric pole placed in the middle of the road.

2. On October 13, 2024, the decomposed body of Anil Kakade was found in an uncovered water tank in the Nutan Vasahat. He had reportedly been dead for 5-6 days.

3. On December 4, 2024, Chhote Khan Bashir Khan died after crashing into a road divider while riding his two-wheeler near a slaughterhouse. He had been chased by stray dogs feeding on animal remains.

Hence the petition argues that these deaths occurred due to negligence or failure in legal duties by the municipal authorities, and thus, the Municipal Commissioner should be held responsible.