Partly allowed

Kamal Kumar Rathi v. State of Madhya Pradesh through Its Chief Secretary

NGT10 Apr 2026IA No. 37/2026 in Original Application No. 6/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

This order disposes of an interim application and grants directions to the State of Madhya Pradesh to strictly comply with a previous directive dated 15.01.2026 concerning drinking water safety and to submit a report on expert committees within the state by a specified date.

What did the court decide?

Direction to respondents to strictly comply with the order dated 15.01.2026, submit action taken report, and submit expert committee report within two weeks.

Kamal Kumar Rathi vs State of Madhya Pradesh through Its… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

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Item Nos. 09

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL CENTRAL ZONE BENCH, BHOPAL (THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING (WITH HYBRID OPTION)

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Original Application No.06/2026(CZ) (I.A. No.35/2026 & I.A. No.37/2026)

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Kamal Kumar Rathi Applicant(s)

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Vs.

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State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. Respondent(s)

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Date of Hearing: 10.04.2026

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SHEO KUMAR SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE DR. PRASHANT GARGAVA, EXPERT MEMBER

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For Applicant (s): Mr. Harpreet Singh Gupta, Adv. Mr. Pritpal Singh Gupta, Adv. Ms. Bhoomika Sharma, Adv. Mr. Chinmay Singh Kulhara, Adv. Ms Prachi Meghani, Adv. For Respondent(s) : Mr. Yadvendra Yadav, Adv. for CPCB Mr. Gaurvanvit Jain, Adv. for MPPCB Mr. Prashant M. Harne, Adv. for State of MP

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ORDER

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I.A. No.37/2026

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This application was heard previously; it was for urgent hearing moved on 02.02.2026 and the application was heard. Accordingly, I.A. No. 37/2026 stands disposed of.

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I.A. No.35/2026

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This is an application seeking directions to comply the order dated 15.01.2026 passed by this Tribunal.

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Learned Counsel for the applicant has submitted that the public authorities arbitrarily are appointing the temporary unskilled employees to conduct the test of drinking water in Bhopal. The testing 1

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O.A. No.06/2026(CZ) Kamal Kumar Rathi Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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of the water can be done only by the skilled and trained experts having knowledge regarding the chemicals and their characteristics and contrary to that such can test are being conducted done by the untrained and unskilled employees, endangering the lives of the innocent peoples.

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Learned Counsel for the applicant has further submitted that instead of solving the grave problem regarding clean drinking water, the concerned authorities, Nagar Nigam, Bhopal, stopped the water supply in certain areas. It is reported that thousands of people are craving from drinking water for more than 15 days, and are forcefully dependant on the water tankers, to fulfill their daily needs. This arbitrary action of the concerned Nagar Nigam Authorities clearly shows their malice towards the general public. The said incident in published in Tuesday edition of the daily newspaper namely, "Dainik Bhaskar", on 20.01.2025. It is reported that a bacteria named E.Coli has been detected in Groundwater of Bhopal city. E. Coli is the same bacteria that was found in Indore's contaminated water, which lead to the death of about 20 people. The said bacteria are highly dangerous to the health of people.

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The audit figures reveal long-standing failures in drinking water and safety and monitoring in Bhopal as well as in Indore. It is submitted that more than 5,45,000 people in major cities of State of MP, were reported to have suffered from waterborne illness, since last 6 years. The said statistics indicates towards the serious danger that the people in MP are suffering. The said statistics has been reported in digital edition of Times of India on 05.01.2026.

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O.A. No.06/2026(CZ) Kamal Kumar Rathi Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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That recently, only about 100 complaints regarding issue of clean drinking water emerged in Jan Sunwai, in Indore. It is submitted that the people are losing their faith and belief in state machinery. As, previously, more than 300 complaints were raised in Jan Sunwai, but recently, only 100 people approached the concerned authorities, as they believe that despite their complaints, no actions are being taken by the authorities, to resolve the problem. It is further submitted that more than 15 residential colonies in Indore are craving for bare minimum clear drinking water, required for life. More than 30,000 people are not able to access the clean drinking water, as the concerned Nagar Nigam authorities are unable to repair the leakage problem. The said intentional delay in disposing such grave problem, by the concerned authorities, is creating huge disbelief in state machinery, in minds of general public. The said incident has been reported in the Wednesday edition of the daily newspaper namely "Dainik Bhaskar", on 21.01.2026.

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Accordingly, the prayer of the Learned Counsel for the applicant are a direction no. 20 & 21 of the order dated 15.01.2026 must be strictly complied with.

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We direct the respondents to strictly comply the order dated 15.01.2026 and submit the action taken report.

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Learned Counsel for the applicant has submitted that the work should be handed over to Expert Committee like IIT but the Learned Counsel for the State Mr. Prashant M. Harne has sought a short time to submit the name of the expert bodies in the State.

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O.A. No.06/2026(CZ) Kamal Kumar Rathi Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

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Accordingly, Learned Counsel for the State Mr. Prashant M. Harne is directed to submit the report of expert committees within the State of Madhya Pradesh.

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Respondents are further directed to submit the reply within two weeks. List the matter on 11^th May, 2026 .

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Sheo Kumar Singh, JM

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Dr. Prashant Gargava, EM

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10^th April, 2026, Original Application No.06/2026(CZ) (I.A. No.35/2026 & I.A. No.37/2026) K

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O.A. No.06/2026(CZ) Kamal Kumar Rathi Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.

Kamal Kumar Rathi v. State of Madhya Pradesh through Its Chief Secretary

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Kamal Kumar Rathi v. State of Madhya Pradesh through Its Chief Secretary

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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