Access to Clean Water Is a Right Under Article 21, Not a Charity: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State Government to prepare a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)  for maintaining water supply infrastructure, calling access to clean drinking water a constitutional right, not a charity.

While hearing a PIL on water contamination, the court said that mere building infrastructure alone isn't enough; scientific and regular upkeep of purification plants, tanks, pipelines, borewells, and RO units is essential.

The court gave two months for SOP submission and tasked Deputy Commissioners with monitoring compliance. Non-functional RO plants must be restored within a month. Records of all maintenance must be systematically kept and produced when required.