SUDIP MAZUMDAR Vs. STATE OF M.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE proceedings were registered as a public interest litigation on the basis of a letter dated 15.11.1982 addressed to the then Chief Justice of India by Sri Sudip Mazumdar, a journalist. The petition concerns the alleged inadequacy of safety precautions in the Indian Army's ammunition test -firing range near Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh. It is alleged that the villagers, mostly tribals, who stray into what is stated to be the country's largest ammunition test -firing range, were getting killed and maimed.

(2.) IN the counter affidavits filed by the respondents, from time to time, the repetitive occurrence of these incidents is not disputed. Sri R.S. Goel, Under Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, in the course of his counter affidavit dated 1.9.1983 states:

(3.) SIMILAR were the averments in the counter affidavit dated 2.3.1988 filed by Mrs. Rasmi Shukla, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, District Rural Development Agency, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh: