SC calls PIL on packaged drinking water standards ‘luxury litigation’
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought enforcement of international-quality standards for packaged drinking water in India, calling it an example of “luxury litigation” in a country where a large populace lacks access to basic drinking water.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned the relevance of the petition filed by Sarang Vaman Yadwadkar, who wanted Indian bottled-water norms to match those followed in countries such as the UK, Australia and Saudi Arabia, The New Indian Express reported.
“Where is the drinking water in this country, madam? People do not have drinking water; the quality of bottled water will come later on,” Chief Justice Surya Kant, who was sitting with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, said, adding that these are luxury litigations.
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At the outset, the CJI questioned the very premise of the petition, observing that the court could not lose sight of broader realities faced by the country.
Senior advocate Anita Shenoy, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the issue concerned public health and consumer safety. She reportedly said the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 requires packaged drinking water to comply with specific safety norms, and citizens are entitled to clean, safe drinking water.
Suggesting to the petitioner to spare some time for India's to grow further, the bench allegedly said, Let India grow first. Nobody takes up the cause of the poor. This is all urban phobia.
The court also advised her to travel across the country and see the reality. “Mahatma Gandhi, when he returned from South Africa, travelled across rural areas to understand the plight of the people,” TNIE quoted the CJI as saying.
The court ultimately allowed the petitioner to withdraw the PIL, granting liberty to approach the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or other competent authorities to seek redressal.
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Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance announcement for civic polls likely next week
Mumbai (PTI): The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are likely to announce next week their alliance for the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra, with seat-sharing for all the civic bodies, except Mumbai, almost complete, leaders of both the parties said.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the all-important Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will be held on January 15, and the counting of votes will take place the next day.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS will forge an alliance for the polls in municipal corporations of Mumbai, Thane, Mira-Bhayandar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune and Nashik, among others.
The Sena (UBT) is headed by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, while his once-estranged cousin Raj is the president of the MNS.
"Talks for all civic bodies, except Mumbai, are complete. The sticking point is about the seats that we are demanding in Marathi-dominated areas. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is not still not agreeing to it which has delayed the seat-sharing. But the talks have to be over soon since the date of filing nominations starts next week (December 23 to December 30)," an MNS leader said.
Talking to reporters, MNS leader and former MLA Nitin Sardesai said, "It is appropriate to say that the talks are in final stages but it is difficult to say when it will be officially announced. I can only say that all sides are putting efforts to complete the talks and they are working towards it."
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Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab met Raj Thackeray to discuss seat-sharing.
A Sena (UBT) leader said talks are in final stages and there is no hurdle in the seat-sharing agreement.
"The two brothers are expected to officially announce the alliance between the two parties on Monday in a public event or through a press conference that will set the tone for the civic body polls," he said.
Raj Thackeray quit the undivided Shiv Sena blaming Uddhav for his exit in 2005 and floated the MNS in 2006. They had been political rivals since then.
However, after the drubbing of their parties in the Maharashtra assembly polls in 2024 - the Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, while MNS drew a blank - both leaders decided to put behind their political acrimony and find a common ground for survival.
Over the past few months, the two cousins shared the stage or were spotted at public forums together multiple times for various reasons.
The cousins publicly ended their two-decade-long estrangement in July, where they addressed a joint rally. At the event, Uddhav said they have come together to stay together.
