The Kerala High Court on Thursday took note of an alarming drinking water shortage affecting large parts of West Kochi, including coastal panchayats and several city wards. Hearing a public interest petition, the court asked the State government and water authorities to explain what concrete steps they have taken to ensure uninterrupted water supply to residents.
Background of the Case
The case was filed by Thampi Subramaniyan, a resident of Kochi, who approached the court claiming that people living in West Kochi, Chellanam Panchayat, Kumbalangi Panchayat, and nearly 30 wards of the Kochi Municipal Corporation are struggling to access drinking water.
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According to the petition, the shortage is not a temporary inconvenience but a persistent problem. The petitioner pointed out that despite repeated representations to authorities, the situation has not improved. He also raised concerns about possible diversion and mismanagement of water resources, urging the installation of flow meters at key supply points to ensure fair distribution.
The petition was filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), a legal route used when an issue affects the community at large rather than an individual alone.
Proceedings Before the Court
The matter came up before a Division Bench led by the Chief Justice. Lawyers appearing for the petitioner argued that residents in the western regions of Kochi are being forced to depend on irregular tanker supplies or unsafe alternatives due to the shortage.
The State government was represented by the Government Pleader.
After examining the petition and hearing both sides, the court chose not to dismiss the matter at the threshold stage. Instead, it sought a factual response from the authorities responsible for water supply in the region.
Court’s Observations
The bench noted that the petitioner had identified himself as a permanent resident of the affected area and had provided details regarding the alleged crisis.
“The petitioner claims that there is an acute drinking water shortage in the western regions of Kochi,” the court observed, adding that several representations had already been made to the concerned authorities.
The judges also made it clear that access to drinking water is a basic necessity and that authorities are expected to act promptly when such issues are brought to their notice.
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The Decision
Without passing any final directions at this stage, the High Court directed the respondents - including officials from the Water Resources Department and the Kerala Water Authority - to file affidavits explaining the steps taken to ensure drinking water supply to the affected areas.
The court ordered that these affidavits must be filed within two weeks.
At the same time, the bench expressed an expectation that authorities would not wait for further court orders to act.
“We hope and trust that in the meantime adequate measures will be taken to ensure continuous supply of drinking water for the residents of the area mentioned in the writ petition,” the Chief Justice said while dictating the order.
The matter has been posted for further consideration on February 19, 2026.
Case Title: Thampi Subramaniyan v. State Authorities
Case No.: WP(PIL) No. 19 of 2026
Decision Date: 29 January 2026
