MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday warned that the right of slum dwellers in Mumbai to permanent alternate accommodation would be forfeited if they were found dumping garbage in public places, in violation of the court’s order for maintaining public hygiene.
“People are resisting even basic cleanliness. This isn’t acceptable at all. For slums, we will get their right to a permanent alternate accommodation forfeited. If you want to live in this city, follow basic principles. If you throw garbage anywhere and do not follow the rules, we will forfeit your rights. The court was hearing a bunch of petitions over the continued dumping of municipal solid waste at the Kanjurmarg landfill, saying maintenance of public hygiene was a collective responsibility and required citizens to aid the municipal machinery. THe court noted that littering on public roads infringes upon constitutional rights of citizens, guaranteed under the right to life. “We can’t have such unruly citizens. Their rights have to be forfeited else they will not learn a lesson. Let us be very clear, these slum dwellers will have to mend their ways. They cannot get everything for free.
“What attitude is this,” the judges asked. If they want to live in Mumbai they will have to mend their ways,” the bench said. The court said that the SRA would have to ensure that residents of rehabilitation facilities followed basic cleanliness rules.
