Warning of a health epidemic, Delhi High Court on Friday directed the city government to ensure immediate release of funds to East Delhi Municipal Corporation. The funds are to be released to pay salaries to employees for the month of May.
The court also observed that the state government should “call an emergency session” of the Assembly as it was a “serious” issue.
Why should the poorest wait for their salary? We have gone past promises. People on the ground are suffering. Why should they work without salary?
– Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court also issued a slew of directions to immediately clear the “alarming proportions” of garbage which has been piling on streets due to a strike by sanitation workers over non-payment of salaries.
The court also voiced unhappiness over Delhi Government’s submission that it will take a decision for release of funds in its budget session.
On the issue of removal of garbage from the areas, a bench of justices S Muralidhar and IS Mehta directed the Commissioner of Police to constitute specific task forces to be headed by an officer not below the rank of sub-inspector to oversee ward-wise garbage removal right away.
It also restrained the associations of safai karamchaaris from obstructing removal of garbage from dumps, a function which has been outsourced to private agencies.
The court passed the order after it perused news reports and pictures submitted by advocate Sanjeev Ralli, who showed photographs of various areas in east Delhi where garbage has spilled onto the roads.
(With inputs from PTI)
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