Hawkers must be prohibited from selling contaminated water, artificially-coloured drinks: HC to MCD

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) The high court has asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to ensure that hawkers are prohibited from selling contaminated water or beverages like shikanji, lassi, lemon soda, sugarcane juice and jal jeera, besides cut fruits, and that action is taken against those found selling these items.

The court noted that the MCD, with the aid and assistance of police, has been proactively taking action against the illegal dissemination of contaminated water and artificially-flavoured coloured drinks made from harmful chemicals and substances in all the zones here.

https://www.upsc.gov.in/FR-CSM-22-engl-230523.pdf

The court said it appeared that the authorities has been taking such action from 2018 and in light of this, it does not find it necessary to ask for further status reports or action-taken reports from the respondents.

“Needless to state that the respondent/MCD must continue to ensure that hawkers are prohibited from selling contaminated water or passing of any contaminated beverages as shikanji, lassi, coloured drinks, soda water, lemon soda, cut fruits, sugarcane juice, jal jeera, ruhafza and kanji bottle.

“In this regard, the respondents must continue to carry out regular raids, confiscate illegal material and initiate prosecution against individuals engaged in the selling of contaminated water or passing of any contaminated beverages as shikanji, lassi, coloured drinks, soda water, lemon soda, cut fruits, sugarcane juice, jal jeera, ruhafza and kanji bottle,” a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said.

The high court disposed of the public interest litigation (PIL) matter filed by the Refrigerated Water Licensees Association that has more than 300 water-cooling units, seeking directions to the authorities concerned to forthwith clamp a ban on the sale of contaminated water by unlicensed roadside hawkers through e-rickshaws and unauthorised permanent structures and on the sale of artificially-flavoured coloured drinks made from harmful chemicals and substances and styling them as shikanji, lassi and aamras.

https://www.upsc.gov.in/FR-CSM-22-engl-230523.pdf

The court had earlier issued a notice seeking the response of the MCD, which has placed on record that 12 zones fall under its jurisdiction.

The civic body has said it regularly takes action against those running the unauthorised business of selling water through unlicensed water trolleys and sugarcane juice shops, those selling ice cream and other products made from water, besides those selling unauthorised water-cooling plants.

The court noted that the MCD carried out hygiene raids in the South zone from May 1, 2022 to November 7, 2022, in which 47 shikanji rehris, 54 lassi rehris, 23 cold drink rehris, 68 juice rehris, 54 jal jeera rehris, 13 sugarcane crusher rehris and 19 water trolleys were seized and 547 water trolleys checked.

Further, it appears that 132 shikanji, lassi and coloured drink rehris, 11 sugarcane crushers and three unlicensed water trolleys were seized, 148 rehris selling lemon removed and seven illegal water-cooling plants prosecuted in the West zone. the court noted.

https://www.upsc.gov.in/FR-CSM-22-engl-230523.pdf

Similar action was also taken in the Central, Najafgarh, Civil Lines, City SP, Shahdara (South), Shahdara (North), Public Health Department, Karol Bagh, Narela and Kesha Puram Zones, it added.