Najafgarh drain pollution | How can PMO be party to a case, it has other things to do: HC on plea seeking information on remedial action taken

The Delhi High Court on Thursday questioned the inclusion of the Prime Minister's Office in a plea filed around the Najafgarh drain pollution, and directed the Delhi government to respond to Najafgarh residents’ concerns.

Written by Sohini Ghosh

New Delhi | Updated: July 4, 2025 07:42 PM IST

2 min read

The petitioners have sought that the respondent authorities be directed to furnish information about remedial action taken against the increasing pollution. (File Photo)

While hearing a petition – in which the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has been made a party – seeking information on remedial action taken against pollution in and around Najafgarh drain, the Delhi High Court on Friday orally inquired how can the PMO be made a party to the plea while stating that the “PMO has other things to do”.

Resident welfare associations of residential societies located in and around the drain, including CC Colony Development Association, Shakti Nagar Extension Security and Development Society, Integrated Public Welfare Organisation and others, have highlighted in a petition that air and water pollution in and around Najafgarh drain pose a risk to people’s health and affect the right to life of those residing on the banks of the drain.

The petitioners, through advocate Mukesh Gupta, have sought that the respondent authorities be directed to furnish information about remedial action taken against the increasing pollution.

Also Read | Coming up near Delhi’s Najafgarh drain, a ‘recreational & social space’

Among the respondent parties in the petition are the PMO, National Mission for Clean Ganga under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Central Pollution Control Board, Forest and Climate Change, Delhi Irrigation department chief engineers, Delhi Jal Board CEO, Municipal Corporation of Delhi commissioner, and Delhi Pollution Control Committee secretary member.

Justice Mini Pushkarna, while briefly hearing the plea, orally remarked to the petitioner, “How can you make PMO a party? PMO is never a party… PMO has other things to do, not like this before court.”

According to the petitioners, they had written to the PMO in January seeking details on remedial action taken in respect of the pollution, following which their representation was forwarded to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, which was further forwarded to the Delhi government for necessary action. However, no response was received.

Justice Pushkarna closed the plea with a direction to the Delhi government that the petition be treated as a representation and that the requisite information sought be communicated to the petitioners.

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delhi high court Jal Shakti Ministry Najafgarh drain Prime Minister's Office