A petition under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 was filed before the National Human Rights Commission alleging grave violations of the right to life arising from uranium contamination in Delhi’s groundwater. Relying on a national groundwater quality report of the Central Ground Water Board, the petitioner highlighted that a substantial proportion of groundwater samples in Delhi exceeded prescribed safety limits, exposing residents to serious health risks. The petition asserts that continued dependence on groundwater for daily supply, coupled with inadequate monitoring, disclosure, and corrective measures, has resulted in systemic failure to protect public health. It contends that exposure to uranium-tainted water threatens health, dignity, and environmental safety, amounting to violations of constitutional and policy obligations. The petitioner seeks urgent intervention, including independent investigation, health-risk assessments, remedial action, and time-bound compliance to ensure access to safe drinking water.
A serious public health and human rights concern has been raised over dangerously high levels of uranium contamination in Delhi’s groundwater, as reported in a recently published National Groundwater Quality Report of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
In this regard, a pro bono complaint dated 01.12.2025 was filed before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by Advocate Balachander Reddy highlighting the issue and seeking appropriate intervention in the larger public interest.
The NHRC has taken cognizance of the complaint and, vide direction dated 08.01.2026, issued instructions to the Chairman, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, located at 2nd Floor (South), Sewa Bhawan, R.K. Puram, New Delhi – 110066, to take appropriate action within eight weeks. The Commission has further directed that the complainant/victim be associated in the process and be informed of the action taken.
The matter has been closed by the NHRC as Case No. 3/30/3/2026, with the directions to the concerned authority remaining binding for compliance within the stipulated timeline.
NHRC directions have been attached for reference.
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