Uttarakhand High Court creates dedicated email id for citizens to lodge complaints on solid waste management

In order to enable citizens to lodge their complaints regarding problems arising out of solid waste management by authorities, the Uttarakhand High Court recently created a dedicated email id which would be personally monitored by the High Court's Registrar (Judicial) [Jitender Yadav vs Union of India]..The order was passed by a division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice RC Khulbe after noting that the State authorities are only passing 'paper orders' regarding the ban on non-biodegradable plastic. The Court, therefore, ordered the Registrar (Judicial) to create an email id - solidwastecomplaint@uk.gov.in, which would be open to the public to send their complaints regarding solid waste, which is collected and not removed in any part of the State, be it within municipal limits, or in rural/forest areas. "Along with the complaint, the complainant should also upload the photographs to show the collection or non-disposal of solid waste, clearly identifying its location. The complainant should clearly provide his/her identity and contact details. The complaints, which are received shall be perused by the Registrar (Judicial) after 05:00 P.M. every day. These complaints shall be printed out, provided they relate to issues regarding solid waste in the State, and not otherwise," the bench ordered.It shall be the responsibility of the respective commissioners of the local civic bodies to then have the complaints actioned, the bench further said.The commissioners shall revert within two working days of the complaints being forwarded by the Registrar (Judicial) to inform as to what steps have been taken in respect of the complaints so received. The bench further added that the State shall give wide publicity to the said email id so that the citizens are made aware of the same..The issues we are confronted with cannot be resolved merely by sitting in a closed office room.Uttarakhand High Court .The order was passed on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition highlighting the harm of non-biodegradable plastic on the environment. During the hearing of the matter on October 19, the bench noted that the authorities in the State have failed to take corrective measures and have just been passing paper orders. "What we find from the various affidavits filed before us is that the various authorities, including the State Level Monitoring Committee, have been issuing paper directions to authorities subordinate to them, particularly to the Urban Local Bodies, and the District Magistrates. However, there is no monitoring of the directions being issued, let to find out whether they are being implemented," the bench said. The mere issuance of such directions on paper by the higher authorities cannot be considered as discharge by them of their respective obligations, as it falls on them to ensure that their directions are complied with, the Court clarified. "It is necessary that the higher authorities monitor the implementation of the directions issued by them, by calling for actual reports, and by undertaking site visits and ground surveys. However, that does not appear to have been resorted to at all. The issues we are confronted with cannot be resolved merely by sitting in a closed office room," the bench observed..The Court also noted that in July this year, an order was passed directing the State Pollution Control Board to get the plastic product manufacturers registered with it.However, it was informed that till now only 174 such producers have registered themselves. It, therefore, granted 15 more days for others to register, failing which they would not be allowed to operate in the State.The matter would be now taken up for hearing for examination of compliance report on November 24..Advocate Dushyant Mainali appeared for the Petitioner.Standing Counsel Lalit Sharma appeared for the Central government.Chief Standing Counsel CS Rawat along with advocates Gajendra Tripathi and BPS Mer represented the State..[Read Order]