Implement guidelines to curb wastage of water, food in weddings: SC tells Lt Gov, Govt of Delhi

Even as the wedding season arrives, the Supreme Court has called for the formulation of a comprehensive policy to keep a check on wastage of food and water during weddings held in the national capital..Directing the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and the Government of NCT Delhi to come up with a policy to give precedence to public interest over commercial interests of motels and farmhouses where such wedding functions are held, the Court noted that stale food is often served at such events, posing as a health hazard..In the previous hearing in the case, the Court had made a note of the large quantities of water required and food served at such events. The Court juxtaposed the same with the water scarcity prevailing in Delhi as well as reports of three girls dying due to starvation in the capital..The Bench of Justices Madan Lokur, Deepak Gupta, and Hemant Gupta in its previous order of December 6 said,.“There is a huge amount of mismanagement of scarce water and wastage of food. Surely, no one can say that this waste is in public interest.”.The Court had summoned the Chief Secretary of Delhi for the next hearing to facilitate passing of appropriate directions. It further observed,.“It is a matter of common knowledge that the availability of drinking water and availability of food is a natural human right and this must be respected by whoever is concerned with governance in Delhi… It should be appreciated that money is not everything in life.”.Chief Secretary of Delhi Vijay Dev appeared before the Court on Tuesday and apprised the Court that there was a consensus between the Lt Governor of Delhi and the Government of Delhi as regards the views expressed by the Court on wastage of food and water by motels, farmhouses, and similarly placed establishments at wedding functions..Dev suggested the possibility of a “two-pronged” approach to maintain the availability of food, and keeping a ceiling on the number of guests at weddings in Delhi. The issues surrounding wastage of food and misutilisation of scarce water is also under consideration, the Court was told..While it was submitted that a policy can be put in place within a period of six weeks, the Court stated that a possibility of passing a guest control order might also be considered. The Court directed thus,.“A complete and comprehensive policy will be prepared by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi and the Lt. Governor so that there is no mis-use of properties, food and water, etc. and shall also be formulated in a manner to avoid congestion including traffic problems caused due to these functions being held at these Motels/Farm Houses.”.The Court has given time until January 31 to the Lt. Governor and Government of Delhi to formulate and strictly impose guidelines in this regard, while setting the next date for hearing on February 5..Read the Order: