The Kerala High Court has strongly emphasized that drinking water must be treated as the top-most priority and directed the Managing Director (MD) of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to immediately act on the 2.5-year-long water shortage faced by over ten panchayats in the Thrissur district.
The direction came during a hearing on June 18 before a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji. The Court expressed serious concern over the long pendency of the issue and asked why such a basic service was still unresolved despite being within the KWA's core responsibilities.
"Our main concern is why should the High Court need to spend so much time on something which is the function of the Water Authority,"
— Kerala High Court orally remarked during the hearing.
The Court questioned the KWA regarding the delay in finding a permanent solution for the ongoing crisis. It observed that for over two and a half years, only temporary measures like water supply through tanker lorries twice a week have been followed, even though a permanent arrangement was promised earlier.
“Two and half years is too much... We are spending time, the Collector is spending time, the Director of Panchayats is spending time calling Panchayats for interim measures for providing drinking water twice a week by lorries,”
— Court observed orally.
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On Wednesday, the KWA MD appeared via video conference as directed under the Court's interim order. The Court instructed the MD to convene a meeting of all relevant officials to ensure the issue is addressed without further delay. The Court made it clear that if no effective action is taken, it may have to pass time-bound mandatory directions against KWA.
“It would be better if the MD takes responsibility instead of leaving it to subordinate officers. That is why he was asked to appear before the Court,”
— Court noted orally.
The matter is now scheduled for further hearing next Wednesday.
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Background of the Case
The first Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in this matter was filed in 2023. The plea sought directions for the Kerala Water Authority and the Sreenarayanpuram and Ayyanthole Panchayats to ensure regular supply of potable water to residents of Gothuruth Island.
In response, the High Court passed an interim order for supplying drinking water every alternate day via pipeline or tankers, under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
In 2024, the Court emphasized a dual-level resolution:
- Permanent infrastructure for regular water supply.
- Immediate provision through temporary arrangements.
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It also directed a joint meeting involving panchayat officials, the National Jal Jeevan Mission, and the National Highway Authority. The District Collector was asked to submit a site inspection report, which confirmed the serious non-availability of drinking water.
Nine affected panchayats were later impleaded as additional parties to ensure accountability. Another PIL was filed in 2025, seeking a long-term solution to the ongoing water crisis.
“The issue is not limited to one panchayat. A coordinated, long-term, and sustainable approach is essential to ensure people get basic access to water,”
— Court’s earlier observation.
Case Title: K.A. Dharmarajan & Anr. v. State of Kerala and Ors. & P.L. Xavier v. State of Kerala
Case Numbers: W.P.(C) No. 36773 of 2023 & W.P. (PIL) No. 2 of 2025
