NEW DELHI: On January 31, the Supreme Court of India issued a notice to the Union Government and the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in response to a writ petition filed by the Kashmir Advocates Association.
![[Judiciary & Climate Change] "States Not Using Huge Funds Allotted By Centre For Afforestation": Justice BV Nagarathna](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/image-130.png?resize=447%2C367&ssl=1)
Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna bemoaned that funds supplied by the Centre to States for compensatory afforestation were not being utilised by State governments. The judge highlighted that out of the total Rs 57,325 crores of compensatory afforestation funds received and transferred to States, nearly Rs 38,698 crores remained unutilised. She added that the judiciary must be alive to the legal questions bought about by climate change and must live up to the challenge by creative interpretation of laws.
The Patna High Court issued a notice to Bihar regarding mismanagement and non-utilization of funds collected under the Health and Education cess since 2008. The court ordered a comprehensive affidavit on the collected and expended funds within four weeks. The PIL highlights underutilization, misallocation, and lack of transparency, seeking proper fund use and compliance with CAG recommendations.