IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.2944 of 2010 Date of decision: 11th August, 2010 Mehar Singh … Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others … Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. Purshotam Lal Singla, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. J.S. Puri, Additional Advocate General, Punjab for respondents No.1 to 3. Mr. T.S. Chandok, Advocate for respondent No.4. Ms. Leena Guleria, Advocate for respondent No.7. Ms. Jatinderjit Kaur, Advocate for respondents No.5, 6, 8 and 9. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) On a trivial issue, the petitioner has approached the Civil Court and this Court too. This Court is of the opinion that the grievance of the petitioner can be redressed, in case the authorities perform their duties. Grievance of the petitioner is that the drain passing through the village is not functional, therefore, there is accumulation of dirty water in front of house of the petitioner in the common street due to which foul smell is emitted. Civil Writ Petition No.2944 of 2010 Counsel for the Gram Panchayat submits that since the Civil Court has granted order of status quo, the Gram Panchayat cannot make the drain functional. Counsel for the private respondents state that the drain cannot pass from the land, which is their private property and a Civil Suit is pending regarding the same. In the present rainy season, if the drains will not function properly, there would be a threat to the public hygiene. Accordingly, District Development and Panchayat Officer, Jalandhar is directed to act in collaboration with the Gram Panchayat and ensure that drains in the village are functional and nowhere the dirty water accumulates. Public health and the public hygiene, being top priorities, must be ensured by the authorities. For ensuring public good, order of status quo of the Civil Court will not stand in the way. Mr. J.S. Puri, Additional Advocate General, Punjab, states that he will ensure that the DDPO, Jalandhar complies with the order and there is no accumulation of dirty water, so that mosquitoes do not breed. This Court appreciates the fair stand taken by Mr.Puri. Let this order be conveyed to the authorities concerned by him. With the observations made above, present writ petition is disposed of. A copy of this order, attested by the Special Secretary of this Court, be supplied to counsel for the State for onward transmission and compliance. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE August 11, 2010 rps 2