The Supreme Court expressed serious concern over the rapid drying of Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake, with CJI Surya Kant flagging alleged collusion between builder mafias, bureaucrats, and political entities behind illegal constructions threatening the lake’s survival.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the rapid degradation of Chandigarh’s iconic Sukhna Lake, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant condemning the alleged collusion between builder mafias, bureaucrats, and political entities responsible for illegal constructions in the lake’s catchment area.
“Aur kitna sukhaoge Sukhna Lake ko?”
the CJI remarked sharply, highlighting the unchecked environmental destruction caused by unauthorized development.
A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi was hearing interim applications in the long-pending 1995 environmental PIL titled In Re: TN Godavarman Thirumulpad, a landmark case dealing with forest conservation across the country.
As a lawyer mentioned a plea relating to Sukhna Lake, the Chief Justice orally observed:
“There are illegal constructions in collusion and connivance with bureaucrats, backed by political entities in Punjab, resulting in complete destruction of the lake. All builder mafias are operating there.”
At the outset, the bench questioned why forest and lake-related disputes are increasingly being brought directly before the Supreme Court, bypassing the High Courts, and that too through interim applications in a decades-old PIL.
“Why are all forest matters coming to this court?”
the bench wondered, indicating concern over misuse of the apex court’s jurisdiction.
Referring specifically to the Sukhna Lake application, the CJI remarked that it appeared like a “friendly match” being played at the behest of private developers, raising serious doubts about the bona fides of such litigation.
The bench directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Union government, and Senior Advocate K. Parmeswar, assisting the court as amicus curiae in forest matters, to inform the court about local issues that could be effectively handled by High Courts.
Background
Litigation concerning Sukhna Lake, a reservoir and ecological lifeline of Chandigarh, has primarily revolved around protecting its catchment area from encroachment. In 2020, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the demolition of structures constructed within the protected zone to prevent silting and ecological damage.
