HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL THE HON’BLE CHIEF JUSTICE SHRI MANOJ KUMAR GUPTA AND THE HON’BLE JUSTICE SHRI SUBHASH UPADHYAY

25^th March, 2026 Writ Petition (PIL) No. 30 of 2026 Sazid Hussain ------Petitioner Versus State of Uttarakhand and & others -----Respondents ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Presence:-

None is present for the petitioner.

Mr. B.S.Parihar, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State/ respondents no. 1 to 3.

Dr. Kartikeya Hari Gupta, learned counsel for the respondents no. 4 & 5. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JUDGMENT: (per Manoj Kumar Gupta, C.J.

1. The present Writ Petition has been filed in public interest praying for the following reliefs: “i) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing and commanding the respondents to take all immediate effective steps to strictly implement the provisions of Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 (as amended upto date) and the provisions of Uttarakhand Plastic and other Non Biodegradable Garbage (Reugationof Use and Disposal) Act, 2013 and to strictly enforce the Extended Producer’s Responsibility in terms of the notification dated its letter and spirit.

ii) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing and commanding the respondents to take all immediate and possible steps for implementation of Uttarakhand Panchayat Solid Waste Management Policy 2017, in its letter and spirit, forthwith without any further delay.”

2. The case of the petitioner is that the sanitary workers of the Nagar Panchayat, Sultanpur are on strike and as a result thereof the sanitation work in the entire Nagar Panchayat had got seriously impacted. On

12.03.2026, the following order was passed.

“1. Mr. Ankurit Raj David, learned counsel for the petitioner.

2. Mr. B.S.Parihar, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State.

3. Dr. Kartikey Hari Gupta, learned counsel for the respondents no. 4 & 5.

4. The present PIL has been filed highlighting the insanitary conditions prevailing in Nagar Panchayat, Sultanpur on account of sanitary workers having gone on strike as their demands have not been fulfilled by the respondents.

5. Dr. Kartikey Hari Gupta has appeared on behalf of Nagar Panchayat, Sultanpur. He has placed for our perusal the demands of the sanitary workers. Inter alia, it consists of demand for payment of arrears of wages of 7 Paryavaran Mitras, which we feel should be immediately addressed.

6. Learned counsel appearing for Nagar Panchayat very fairly states that the said demand would be met immediately. In respect of other demands, he states that the Nagar Panchayat has already forwarded the same to District Magistrate. He submits that while the demands are under consideration, the Nagar Panchayat with the assistance of District Administration will find out some solution for removal of the garbage from the Nagar Panchayat area.

7. At this stage, while we desist from commenting on the merits of the demands, we are of the opinion that the sanitation work being an important public utility service, it should not get affected and therefore, the Nagar Panchayat as well as the office bearers of the Union /Association of the employees should sit together, along with the District Administration, to resolve the issues.

8. We hope and trust that good sense will prevail with the office bearers of the Union and they will cooperate in the sanitation work pending consideration of their demands.

9. Put up as fresh on 18.03.2026.

10. Let a progress report, particularly on the aspect of clearance of arrears of 7 Paryavaran Mitras, be filed by the Executive Officer, Nagar Panchayat, Sultanpur, along with his affidavit before the next date.”

3. In pursuance to the said order, it appears that a meeting of the officers of the Nagar Panchayat and office bearers of the employees’ union took place and wherein most of the issues have been amicably resolved. The