Indore HC Forms One-Man Commission for Bhagirathpura Water Contamination Probe

• The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has appointed a one-man commission, led by retired Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, to independently investigate the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident.
• The state government reported 16 deaths due to the contamination, prompting the court to seek an independent fact-finding exercise due to the seriousness and impact on the right to life.
• The commission will identify the source and nature of contamination, ascertain the actual number of deaths, assess medical aid, and suggest immediate and long-term improvements for clean drinking water.
• It is empowered to identify responsible officials and employees, determine accountability, and suggest compensation guidelines for affected individuals.
• The commission has civil court powers to summon officials, records, conduct inspections, and must submit an interim report within four weeks; the next hearing is scheduled for March 5.

Why It Matters: Indore HC mandates independent probe into Bhagirathpura water contamination, ensuring accountability and clean water.