SC rebukes L-G, CM for futile chikungunya meet

NEW DELHI: Disappointed that Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal couldn’t suggest measures to prevent chikungunya outbreak in

NEW DELHI: Disappointed that Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal couldn’t suggest measures to prevent chikungunya outbreak in future, the Supreme Court criticised them for “letting the people suffer.”

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Exasperated that its October 4 direction to the authorities to hold a meeting bore no results, the bench, comprising justices MB Lokur and AK Roy, was left with no option but to ask Delhi’s health secretary whether tea was served at Wednesday’s meeting.

“So was there tea served. What about the snacks? Were they served too? And did you have the tea and snacks while the meeting was on or before it,” the bench asked him.

Embarrassed, the secretary kept mumbling and clarified that there were no snacks but just biscuits.

The bench was infuriated to note that the CM and his health minister gave no inputs at the meeting. Pointing to the minutes of the meeting, prepared by the L-G’s office, the bench said all other heads of civic agencies and authorities presented their views. However, there was no end result. It said the minutes were silent on what strategy needs to be adopted to prevent a similar outbreak in future. “You have no contribution in the meeting. You didn’t say a word,” the bench told senior advocate CU Singh, the counsel representing the health minister.

Solicitor general Ranjit Kumar assured the bench of a positive outcome. Appearing for the health secretary, he said the participants had a “baggage” in the last meeting. “But it won’t be repeated,” he said.

The bench outlined points for discussion. “They must discuss the steps to be taken to prevent the problem faced by people this year and the future measures,” the bench ordered, asking authorities to take effective steps to clean garbage strewn all over the city.