In response to the water contamination crisis in Indore, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at its Indore bench has appointed a one-man commission to investigate the situation in Bhagirathpura and its wider implications. The court’s decision, issued by Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi, follows multiple petitions highlighting negligence by civic authorities that resulted in health issues and deaths. A death audit report submitted by the state, based on a committee of doctors, linked 16 out of 23 deaths to the contamination, while the rest were inconclusive.
Emphasizing the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution, which includes access to clean water, the court found an independent probe necessary. Retired Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta has been appointed to lead the commission, tasked with investigating the contamination’s cause, death toll, disease nature, medical response adequacy, reforms needed, official accountability, and compensation guidelines for victims. The commission has been granted civil court powers to summon witnesses, access records, order lab tests, and conduct site inspections.
The court also mandated daily water quality testing and ongoing medical camps by the health department. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on March 5. The court consolidated various petitions, including one alleging contamination in Ward No 11 of the Indore Municipal Corporation due to sewage mixing, pipeline leaks, and failure to maintain water standards. Reports and photos submitted indicated severe health risks, with claims of up to 30 deaths linked to the contaminated supply.
