Karnataka High Court judge Justice N K Patil on Tuesday took note of the increasing water and air pollution and said that it should be the priority of the government to ensure clean drinking water and suitable air for the people.
Speaking at a Republic Day celebration, he said that the government was lacking the will in this regard. It must constitute core committees at State, district and taluk level to monitor pollution. Clean air and drinking water is the birthright of every individual, he said.
The event was organised by the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, the Bangalore Advocates Co-operative Society Limited and the Bangalore Advocates’ Literary Union.
Justice Patil said, “Even after six decades of becoming a republic, we are not in a position to provide unpolluted air, hygienic food, clean drinking water and electricity to all citizens. The problem of malnutrition is rampant among the weaker sections of the society.”
He said, “Every child born has the natural right to survive. It has the right to get food, clean water, clothes, medicines and a clean environment to live. We must ensure that the natural right of everyone is protected.”
He asked lawyers to evolve a mechanism to simplify the archaic and time-consuming legal procedures.
