Ravinder Yadav vs Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi & Ors.

$~4 (SDB)
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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Date of decision: 29 May, 2026
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Uploaded on: 1 June, 2026
+ W.P.(C) 17064/2024
RAVINDER YADAV .....Petitioner
Through: Petitioner in person.
versus
GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Dhruv Rohatgi, Ms. Chandrika
Sachdev, Advs. for GNCTD.
Mr. Rajeev Verma - CS Delhi, Mr.
Sandeep Kumar – Pr. Sec PWD, Mr.
Sanjeev Kirwar - Commissioner,
MCD, Mr. Vijay Kumar Bhiduri - UD
CEO DJB, Mr. Anil Sharma, CE
IFCD..
Mr. Tushar Sannu, Ms. Rajbala, Mr,
Vaibhav Tripathi, Ms. Payal Rajput,
Advocates.
CORAM:
JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA
Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)
1. This hearing has been done through hybrid mode.
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2. On the last date of hearing i.e., 23 May, 2026, the Chief Secretary,
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (hereinafter, ‘GNCTD’ ),
who had appeared, was requested to consider whether a Special Task Force
(hereinafter, ‘STF’ ) was required to be created for the purpose of
coordination between various agencies to address the issues of waterlogging
in Delhi and other related issues concerning the sewage drains, storm water
W.P.(C) 17064/2024 Page 1 of 7
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:01.06.2026
15:59:26

drains etc., Paragraph 16 of the order dated 23rd May, 2026 reads as under:-
16. The chart placed today by I&FCD shows that there
is considerable collaborative effort that would be
required between the agencies to bring in over-all
improvement in the water logging situation. Thus, the
Chief Secretary of GNCTD and his team may consider
whether a Special Task Force needs to be created.
Constitution of such a Special Task Force, consisting
of senior officials of the various agencies such as
I&FCD, MCD, NDMC, PWD, DJB, DSIIDC, with the
said STF being vested with overall supervisory and
managerial powers would enable coordination and
eliminate delays in decision-making considerably.
Presently, there is confusion as to which agency is in-
charge of which drain and which sewer line. It is seen
in some places that the same drain is partially under the
control of multiple agencies which completely derails
proper working and maintenance. Let this issue be
considered and a status report on the decision taken be
placed on record by the next date of hearing.”
3. On this aspect of constitution of the STF, Mr. Dhruv Rohtagi, ld.
Counsel appearing on behalf of the GNCTD has presented a report to the
Court wherein detailed submissions have been made to the effect that initially
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the National Green Tribunal (hereinafter, ‘NGT’ ) had vide order dated 18
February, 2020 in OA No. 06/2012 directed constitution of an Integrated
Drain Management Cell.
4. The said Integrated Drain Management Cell (hereinafter, ‘IDMC’ ) was
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constituted on 17 March, 2020 under the chairmanship of the Chief
Secretary, GNCTD. However, the GNCTD had approached the NGT for
modification of the orders passed by it. Two committees i.e., a High Level
Committee and the Executive Committee were constituted. The High Level
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Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:01.06.2026
15:59:26

Committee is headed by the Chief Minister, GNCTD and the Executive
Committee is headed by the Chief Secretary, GNCTD. Both these
Committees are stated to be presently functioning.
5. As per the report of the GNCTD, the application for modification and
substitution of the IDMC Cell with the abovementioned committees is stated
to be still pending before the NGT.
6. Ld. Counsel for the GNCTD submits that the IDMC Cell is also
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functional since 3rd June 2024. An order dated 29 July, 2025 passed by the
Department of Urban Development, GNCTD has also been placed on record
as per which the IDMC cell consists of the following members:
7. Insofar as the constitution of the STF is concerned, the status report of
the GNCTD states as under:-
“20. That it is therefore submitted that a Special
Task Force may be constituted on the lines of the IDMC
Cell with members, not below the rank of Chief
Engineers, from PWD, IFCD, DJB, DSIIDC, DUSIB,
DPCC, Forest, DDA, MCD, NDMC and DCB specially
for the drains. The Special Task Force shall facilitate
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Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:01.06.2026
15:59:26

inter department co-ordination, resolve territorial
jurisdictional issues strive for synchronized execution of
works by different agencies and elimination of delays in
decision making. The Special Task Force shall report to
the Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the
Chief Secretary.”
8. A perusal of the role of the IDMC Cell and the requirement for the
STF would now show that there is considerable overlap and again, creation
of multiple committees or agencies would not serve the purpose.
9. Since the IDMC Cell is already functional, in the opinion of this Court,
officials from Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (hereinafter,
‘DUSIB’ ) and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development
Corporation Ltd (hereinafter, ‘DSIIDC’) shall also be added as members into
the said cell and the said cell can function as the STF.
10. Accordingly, the IDMC Cell shall now consist of the following
members:-
11. The IDMC Cell shall be entrusted with the responsibility of
undertaking, supervising, coordinating, and ensuring the effective
implementation of the following functions and activities, which shall
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Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:01.06.2026
15:59:26

constitute its mandate:
i) It shall oversee and supervise the issues relating to
waterlogging, drain management, sewage management, water pipes,
any encroachments on drains, unauthorised constructions, cleaning,
maintenance, management and any other connected related issues in
Delhi.
ii) The cell, under the supervision of Mr. Sandeep Mishra, shall
meet every Friday at 11:30 A.M. for the first three months from the
date of this order, in order to take stock of the forthcoming monsoon
season, including the decanting of drains, clearing of roads, footpaths
and pedestrian areas, removal of unauthorised vending over drains,
removal of encroachments, and to review the status of compliance of
all measures required to be undertaken in this regard.
iii) The IDMC Cell which shall also act as the STF for this purpose
shall be free to include in its meetings any other Departments or
Authorities whose services would be required for the purposes of
ensuring that waterlogging does not take place in Delhi.
iv) Whenever any agency carrying out any work on the above
aspects faces any difficulty in coordination with other agencies, the
same shall be brought to the notice of the IDMC cell who shall enable
coordination and resolve the issue.
v) The concerned officials from all department are to be sensitised
that they ought not to engage in a blame game situation and shift the
burden or blame to non-cooperation from any agency. Officials
including Executive Engineers shall be sensitised to this Order, so that
any works that are pending can be executed with promptitude, in
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Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:01.06.2026
15:59:26

required, with the intervention of the IDMC cell.
12. The IDMC Cell shall file periodic reports on work being carried out
from time to time before this Court.
13. The work of the STF/IDMC Cell is of utmost importance, especially,
for the next three months during the monsoon season. It is made clear that if
more than one weekly meeting is required, the IDMC cell is free to call for
such a meeting.
14. The Principal Secretary, Public Works Department (hereinafter,
‘PWD’ ), in compliance with the order dated 23rd May, 2026, has also
handed over a status report regarding the work that is to be carried out in the
various drains in Delhi. The relevant portion of the same reads as under:
“4. In pursuance of the aforesaid order dated 12.05.2026,
the Executive Engineers of the 17 Divisions of PWD in
coordination with their respective counterpart Engineers of
MCD and IFCD have inspected and furnished reports on the
intersection points of drains of PWD with MCD and of PWD
with IFCD, identifying the action to be taken, responsible
agency for the same and the timelines for completion of the
action. An abstract of the inspection reports furnished by the
Chief Engineers of the 3 zones of PWD (under which the 17
divisions function), through the Engineer in Chief, PWD, is
placed at Annexure-1. A perusal of the said report indicates
that:
a. there are a total of 444 intersection points of PWD
Drains with MCD Drains, of which intervention is
required at 298 points.
b. there are a total of 113 intersection points of PWD
Drains with IFCD Drains, of which intervention is
required at 46 points.
c. there are two major types of interventions to be taken,
viz,
i. Desilting at 307 intersection points (274 with
MCD and 33 with IFCD)
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Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:01.06.2026
15:59:26

ii. Repair/improvement of junctions at 37
intersection points (24 with MCD and 13 with IFCD).”
15. The work as per the above report filed by the PWD shall also be
supervised by the STF/ IDMC Cell constituted above.
16. Insofar as the photographs handed over by the Petitioner is concerned,
a status report has been handed over by Mr. Dhruv Rohatgi, ld. Counsel
wherein it is stated that side drains are being constructed to ensure the water
does not flow into the houses, offices and shops.
17. Let a copy of the said status report be handed over to the Petitioner -
Mr. Ravinder Yadav.
18. At this stage, the Petitioner- Mr. Ravinder Yadav has handed over
certain photographs to show that the level of the drain is not proper
considering the lowest point in the area. Let the Petitioner explain the same
to the concerned officials of the Irrigation & Flood Control Department, who
may consider the submission made by Mr. Yadav and take remedial
measures, if required.
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19. List on 30 June, 2026.
PRATHIBA M. SINGH
JUDGE
MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA
JUDGE
MAY 29, 2026
MR /Ck
W.P.(C) 17064/2024 Page 7 of 7
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:DHIRENDER KUMAR
Signing Date:01.06.2026
15:59:26