Arjun Narang v. Union Of India & ORS.

$~5 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 4115/2020 & CM APPL. 14773/2020 ARJUN NARANG ..... Petitioner Through:

Mr. Pavan Narang and Mr. Shantanu Singh, Advs. along with petitioner-inperson.

versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

..... Respondents Through:

Mr. Chetan Sharma, ASG with Mr.

Amit Mahajan, CGSC, Mr. Dhruv Pande & Mr. Gitesh Chopra, Advs. for UOI.

Mr. Rishikesh Kumar, Adv. for GNCTD.

Mr. Anil Grover, Sr. Addl. Advocate General Haryana with Mr. Mishal Viz & Mr. Satish Kumar, Advs. for State of Haryana.

CORAM:

HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN

O R D E R

% 10.07.2020 Proceedings of the matter have been conducted through video conferencing.

CM APPL. 14773/2020 (exemption) Allowed, subject to just exceptions.

W.P.(C) 4115/2020 1.

This petition has been preferred as Public Interest Litigation with the following prayers:- W.P.(C) 4115/2020 Page 1 of 3

"(a) Issue directions to the Central Government to appoint and / or Designate a single nodal agency to carry out disaster management operations in the National Capital Region by having powers under the NCRPB Act and DM Act. (b) Issue directions to the Central Government to Implement the Regional Plan 2021 under the National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985 specifically measures in relation to medical infrastructure and disaster management; (c) Issue directions to the Central / State Governments & District level authorities of NCR region to work in tandem and provide a single set of parameters / directions / guidelines under a common Covid-19 response plan for the entire NCR region.

(d) Issue directions to the Central Government and other concerned agencies to effectively implement the Regional Plans under Section 7 of the NCRPB Act and also to implement the suggestions contained under the Plan and its study on health infrastructure, specifically in relation to the disaster management and health infrastructure, so as to prepare the region for the current and any future disaster.

(e) Issue directions to the Central / State Governments & District level authorities of NCR region to work in tandem and provide a single set of parameters / directions / guidelines to implement the Study on Health Infrastructure in NCR as published by the NCRPB in December 2015 on its website, which has highlighted several other key gaps in the health infrastructure of the NCR region, in addition to the disparity in terms of health infrastructure between Delhi and other NCR region, resulting in disharmonious development of NCR region resulting in day to day difficulties being suffered by the citizens of the country staying in NCR region outside of Delhi area but contributing to the revenue generation of Delhi. (f) Pass ad-interim / interim / ex-parte order(s) in respect of prayers (a) to (c).

W.P.(C) 4115/2020 Page 2 of 3

(g) Pass any further order (s) / direction (s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case."

2.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, after canvassing some arguments, submitted that it would suffice for the disposal of this writ petition, if the same is treated as a representation by respondents and decided in accordance with law and also keeping in mind the provisions of National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985 to be read with National Disaster Management Act, 2005.

3.

Looking to the limited submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner, we hereby request the concerned respondent authorities to consider the grievances/suggestions as pointed out in this writ petition, specially the synchronization of the work under the National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985 and the National Disaster Management Act, 2005 under a single nodal agency. This exercise will be carried out as early as possible and practicable.

4.

With these directions, the writ petition is hereby disposed of. CHIEF JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN, J JULY 10, 2020 kks W.P.(C) 4115/2020 Page 3 of 3