Updated : January 23, 2026
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of serious concern related to the supply of contaminated and unsafe drinking water in multiple Indian states, observing that the issue amounts to a prima facie violation of human rights and the constitutional Right to Life.
The Commission has issued notices to senior municipal and district authorities in Delhi (NCT), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Hisar (Haryana), directing them to conduct inquiries and submit Action Taken Reports (ATRs) within four weeks.
Clean Drinking Water Integral to Right to Life: NHRC
In its order dated 21 January 2026, the NHRC noted that access to safe and potable drinking water is inseparable from human dignity, public health, and survival.
The complaint placed before the Commission referred to multiple verified media reports highlighting:
- Sewage contamination in drinking water supply
- Chemical and industrial pollutants
- Outbreaks of waterborne diseases
- Excessively high uranium levels in groundwater
The Commission observed that such conditions pose a grave threat to public health, particularly affecting children, elderly persons, and economically vulnerable communities.
Pattern of Failures, Not Isolated Incidents
While acknowledging that cognizance had already been taken earlier in an Indore-related matter, the NHRC stated that the recurrence of similar incidents across different states indicates systemic governance and monitoring failures.
The Commission emphasized that repeated lapses by civic bodies and district administrations reflect deeper issues in regulation, infrastructure maintenance, and accountability mechanisms.
Cognizance Taken Under Protection of Human Rights Act
The matter was considered by the NHRC Bench presided over by Hon’ble Member Shri Priyank Kanoongo. The Commission took cognizance under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, and reiterated that it has the powers of a civil court under Section 13 to inquire into such violations.
Notices have been issued to Municipal Commissioners and District Magistrates of all concerned regions, directing them to personally ensure inquiry, corrective steps, and preventive measures.
Citizen Rights Protection Council (NGO) Brings Issue to NHRC
The issue was raised by Manish, public relationship officer Gujarat, highlighting the nationwide scale of the drinking water crisis.
CRPC presented media reports suggesting that unsafe water supply is no longer an isolated civic failure but a widespread public health and human rights concern, requiring urgent intervention at both state and national levels.
The involvement of the Citizen Rights Protection Council underscores the role of civil society in flagging systemic issues and ensuring that citizens’ grievances reach constitutional oversight bodies.
“Recurring incidents of polluted water supply across multiple states point to institutional neglect, not isolated errors, and demand urgent corrective and preventive action.”
Manish Jain PRO State
Strict Reporting Mechanism Ordered
The NHRC has directed that:
- All inquiries must be conducted promptly
- Concrete remedial and preventive steps must be initiated
- Action Taken Reports must be submitted only through the HRCNet Portal / Speed post.
A Strong Signal on Public Health Accountability
Human rights experts say the NHRC’s intervention reinforces the principle that failure to provide safe drinking water is not merely administrative negligence but a violation of human rights.
As authorities across multiple states prepare their responses, the case is being closely watched as a potential benchmark for treating environmental and public health failures through a human rights accountability framework.
