The Supreme Court of India, on April 8, 2025, issued a firm directive to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), asking it to begin an extensive awareness campaign to educate the public on the responsibilities of waste generators under Rule 4 of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

"We direct MCD to start massive awareness campaigns about the duties of various stakeholders under Rule 4 of 2016 Rules by making advertisements in media both traditional, electronic and social media platforms," the Court ordered.

A bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized the importance of conducting this campaign across all forms of media — including traditional print, electronic, and digital platforms — to ensure maximum outreach. The Court further directed that the grievance redressal mechanism through the MCD 311 mobile app must also be widely publicized.

“On MCD 311 app it is possible to register complaints. Wide publicity should be given to the fact that the citizens can lodge complaints about violation of duties of various stakeholders under Rule 4 by uploading photographs on the said app,” the Court observed.

The bench noted that if the public becomes more aware of their responsibilities and how to report violations, many ongoing infractions could be addressed swiftly. It would also allow MCD to take timely punitive actions against those violating waste rules.

Read Also:- Kerala Tells Supreme Court: Tamil Nadu Governor Verdict Also Applies To Our Case On Withheld Bills

Rule 4 lays down specific duties for waste generators, which include individuals, institutions, gated communities, street vendors, and market associations — particularly those operating in areas larger than 5,000 square meters. The responsibilities include:

• Segregating waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and domestic hazardous categories.
• Properly disposing of construction and horticultural waste.
• Avoiding illegal dumping, burning, or burying of waste.
• Paying user charges.
• Complying with other obligations under the rules.

The Court also referred to the Solid Waste Management By-laws, 2017, created by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and now applicable city-wide under MCD. Specifically, By-law 12 and Schedule 2 outline the penalties for violating the 2016 rules. The Court noted that MCD has already recovered ₹9,59,390 in penalties through challans and has conducted 431 stakeholder meetings as part of compliance efforts.

Read Also:- Supreme Court Defers PIL On Chhattisgarh Anti-Naxal Operation Killings, Says Peace Process Underway

Background of the Case

This development took place during hearings in the MC Mehta case, which deals with the serious air pollution crisis in Delhi, caused by multiple factors such as untreated solid waste, stubble burning, industrial emissions, firecrackers, and vehicular pollution.

On December 18, 2024, the Court had criticized the Delhi Government, stating that 3,000 metric tons of untreated waste out of 11,000 metric tons generated daily was "shameful" and "disastrous." It demanded detailed affidavits on steps taken to treat the waste, prevent landfill fires, and reduce environmental damage.

“If immediate steps are not taken, the Court will be compelled to halt construction activities to control the waste generation,” the bench warned.

On January 17, 2025, the Court expressed dismay over an MCD affidavit claiming that untreated solid waste would only be fully processed by December 2027, without any mention of where the current daily waste is being dumped.

On January 27, 2025, the Court ordered both the Delhi Government and MCD to strictly enforce Rule 4. The Court reminded them that non-compliance attracts heavy penalties under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which ranges from ₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh.

“The Union Government cannot disown its role in addressing Delhi's waste crisis,” the Court emphasized.

On February 24, 2025, the Court extended its scrutiny to all NCR states, asking them to file affidavits showing compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules and detailing segregation plans. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was also directed to assess the health and environmental impact of waste-to-energy projects in NCR.

Read Also:- Supreme Court Declines Tamil Nadu's Plea to Transfer TASMAC-ED Case from Madras High Court

Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for MCD, informed the Court that the civic body had formed 12 task forces, conducted 431 meetings, and issued 2,011 challans totaling over ₹9.5 lakh. She added that 5,756 waste pickers had been identified and were provided with ID cards, protective gear, and access to health schemes.

She also stated that 3,059 bulk waste generators had been identified, and 1,449 of them registered on the MCD 311 app. Work was ongoing to bring the remaining generators into the system. Registered bulk generators are now required to submit daily compliance reports via the app, and non-compliance will result in fines.

Justice Oka inquired about the actual penalties imposed under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act. Guruswamy responded that adjudicating officers have already been appointed through a notification dated November 4, 2024, and penalties are being imposed as per By-law 12 and Schedule 2 of the 2017 regulations.

The Supreme Court has directed the MCD to:

• Start the awareness campaign within one month.
• Continue implementation of all measures mentioned in its March 17, 2025 affidavit.
• File a fresh compliance affidavit by end of June 2025, focusing especially on Rule 4 enforcement.
• Address the issue of 27% unprocessed waste in a phased and time-bound manner.

Case no. – WP (C) 13029/1985

Case Title – MC Mehta v. Union of India