Gauhati High Court raps State for slow response to PIL on waterlogging

The Gauhati High Court recently admonished the Assam government for its lack of response to a petition regarding chronic water logging in Guwahati. In the case of North East Eco Development Society v. State of Assam and Ors., Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Kardak Ete expressed dissatisfaction, imposing a ₹1,000 fine on each state department that failed to file a response. The court granted another opportunity for these departments to respond, emphasizing the seriousness of the longstanding issue. The petition, a public interest litigation (PIL), highlighted concerns over persistent water logging in Guwahati, prompting the court to adjourn the hearing to July 19 and instructing costs to be paid to the Gauhati High Court Legal Services Authority by then. Advocate SU Ahmed represented the petitioner.