The Delhi High Court on Friday, September 19, 2025, pulled up multiple agencies over gaps in monitoring industrial pollution and sewage management. A division bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), and several civic agencies to step up coordination, calling the state of affairs “unclear and unsatisfactory.”
Background
The proceedings are part of two long-running public interest matters initiated by the court itself to address unchecked effluent discharge and frequent waterlogging in the capital. The bench had earlier ordered the DPCC to present a complete chart of industrial areas, treatment facilities, and status of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs). DSIIDC, which manages several industrial clusters, was also asked to file status reports on upgradation plans for 13 CETPs spread across Delhi.
On Friday, counsels from the Union government, Delhi government, MCD, DJB, DDA, and DPCC were present along with senior officials.
Court’s Observations
When the affidavit from DPCC was placed on record, the judges noticed contradictions. The committee listed 28 approved industrial areas with over 24,000 units, of which only 981 had effluent treatment plants. But DSIIDC’s data showed a starkly different figure for the same clusters.
“The contrast in numbers between DPCC and DSIIDC is inexplicable,” the bench remarked, noting how Bawana Industrial Area was shown to have 8,875 industries by one agency but 16,312 plots by another.
The judges were also disturbed by the lack of basic infrastructure in 27 redevelopment zones. “It appears that even sewage and stormwater systems are missing in several areas,” Justice Singh pointed out, directing all concerned authorities — MCD, DDA, DJB, PWD, I&FCD — to sit together and produce a signed table showing land ownership and responsibility for drains and sewage lines.
The court went further, ordering a 100-member inspection drive at G.T. Karnal Road Industrial Area. Teams of DPCC engineers and Delhi government staff, supervised by court-appointed commissioners, will check whether factories have proper sewage connections and working treatment plants.
On grossly polluting industries, the bench was categorical. “There are 164 such units. Their compliance records for the past five years must be placed before us,” the judges directed, reminding DPCC that the ‘polluter pays’ principle must be enforced firmly.
Before rising, the bench issued multiple directions. Notices were sent to all CETP operators, who must appear in the next hearing. The court also roped in CSIR-NEERI, the technical agency tasked with CETP upgradation, asking it to file a detailed status and funding requirement report.
To avoid further bureaucratic passing of the buck, the court appointed Sandeep Mishra, Special Secretary of the Integrated Drain Management Cell, as the nodal officer. He has been asked to coordinate between agencies and ensure compliance.
The judges fixed October 29, 2025, as the next hearing date. They also set a December 15 deadline for final reports on basin designs to control waterlogging in Najafgarh, Barapulla, and Trans-Yamuna regions.
Case Title & Numbers:
Court on Its Own Motion v. Union of India & Ors. — W.P.(C) 7594/2018
Court on Its Own Motion v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Ors. — W.P.(C) 9617/2022