The Supreme Court held that any destruction of wildlife habitats in protected areas will invite strict penalties under multiple environmental laws. The Court also warned that officials may be held accountable for “lethargy and inaction” in stopping illegal activities like sand mining.
The Supreme Court, On Dec 4, criticized the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for relying solely on a joint committee report without independent evaluation, highlighting a “glaring error.” The Court ruled that tribunals must thoroughly examine all evidence and allow parties to present their case, quashing the NGT’s order against M/s Grasim Industries for violating environmental norms.
Today(on 10th July),The Supreme Court criticized Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab for widespread vacancies in their pollution control boards, deeming them ineffective. Justices AS Oka and Augustine George Masih emphasized urgent action, especially in Delhi where 233 out of 344 positions in the Pollution Control Committee remain unfilled.
