‘This Is Urban Phobia’: Supreme Court Rejects PIL Seeking Higher Standards for Bottled Drinking Water

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking stricter standards for bottled drinking water, describing the plea as “luxury litigation” driven by “urban phobia.” A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Justice Suryakant observed that a significant portion of India’s population is still struggling to access even basic clean drinking water.

Rejecting the petition, the Court emphasized that concerns over premium quality standards cannot override the ground reality faced by millions, especially in rural areas where people continue to depend largely on groundwater for drinking purposes.

“Quality Comes Later”

Addressing the petitioner, Sarang Vaman Yadavdkar, the CJI remarked,

“In this country, people are still deprived of clean drinking water. The issue of quality will come later.”

The petitioner had argued that India’s bottled water standards are outdated and sought directions to mandate companies to adopt Euro-2 standards, citing international benchmarks.

Court Flags Urban-Centric Thinking

The Bench cautioned against blindly importing standards followed in developed nations such as the UK, Saudi Arabia, Australia, or the United States.

“Do you think a country facing a severe drinking water crisis can immediately adopt the standards followed in Europe or the US? This is urban phobia,” the CJI said.

The Court stressed that such petitions reflect an urban-centric mindset that overlooks the hardships faced by rural and economically weaker sections.

Ground Reality Must Be Acknowledged

Noting that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) already regulates bottled water norms in India, the Court said the petition failed to account for on-ground realities.

“Give this country some time to move forward. In rural areas, people still drink groundwater. We must confront reality. The problems of the poor are rarely raised—this is fear manufactured in cities,” the Bench observed.

Liberty to Approach Other Authorities

While dismissing the PIL, the Supreme Court granted the petitioner liberty to approach FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) and other relevant authorities for redressal. When the petitioner disputed the Court’s characterization of the plea as luxury litigation, the Bench advised him to travel across the country to understand the lived realities of water scarcity.

Drawing a historical parallel, the Court remarked,

“After returning from South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi travelled across India to understand the nation.”

The ruling underscores the judiciary’s emphasis on prioritising access to basic necessities over elite concerns, especially in a country where clean drinking water remains a daily challenge for millions.