Vikas Sharma v. Delhi Jal Board

$~11 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 6599/2020 VIKAS SHARMA ..... Petitioner Through:

Ms. Mumtaz Ahmad, Advocate.

versus DELHI JAL BOARD ..... Respondent Through:

Mr. Sumeet Pushkarna, SC for DJB.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAJMI WAZIRI

O R D E R

% 17.09.2020 The hearing was conducted through video conferencing. CM APPL. 23019/2020 (exemption from court fee)

1. Exemption allowed, subject to the condition that the petitioner will file the duly sworn/attested affidavit and the requisite Court fee within 72 hours from the date of resumption of the regular functioning of this Court.

2. The application stands disposed-off.

W.P.(C) 6599/2020

3. The petitioner was being supplied water by the Delhi Jal Board („DJB‟) vide new connection no. 0340334515. His address as per the bill issued by the DJB is 01 GF, KH-335, Gali No.8B, Sindhu Farm Road, Meethapur, Delhi - 44. The relevant bill of 28.09.2019 has been annexed to the petition as Annexure P-2. For reasons best known to the DJB, the said supply was disconnected in April 2020. The petitioner‟s legal notice dated 26.04.2020 has elicited no response

from the DJB.

4. Issue notice.

5. The learned Standing Counsel named above accepts notice on behalf of the respondent/DJB.

6. It is submitted by the learned Standing Counsel that while the water pipelines are connected to the petitioner‟s aforesaid address, there was no supply of water - as is evidenced from the bill annexed to the petition, as well as the four subsequent bills. The aforesaid bills show that there has been no supply of water, as this house happens to be at the extreme end of the water pipeline and on account of low pressure, the water was not reaching this particular connection.

7. Nevertheless, this petition may be treated as the petitioner‟s representation by the DJB and the petitioner shall be heard within a period of two weeks from today through video conference, if it is so desired, and through counsel as well. Remedial measures shall be put in place by the DJB as regards supply of water to the petitioner.

8. The petition stands disposed-off in the above terms. In case the parties are still aggrieved, it will be open to them seek appropriate recourse to legal remedy.

9. The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. Copy of the order be also forwarded to the counsels through email. NAJMI WAZIRI, J SEPTEMBER 17, 2020/rd/ab