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The Supreme Court (SC) directed the Centre on August 6, 2025, to file an affidavit indicating the office/department, which is responsible for planning, conserving and denoting the interests of sea turtles. The affidavit has to be filed within a period of three weeks and the SC will next hear the case after five weeks.
The SC had passed an order on April 2, 2025. It directed the state governments/Union territories to file an affidavit in response to the order within a period of two weeks, failing which the court would ask the concerned secretary to be present in the court.
The states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and the Union territories of Lakshadweep and Daman & Diu had not responded to the SC order.
Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave referred to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, Coast Guard Act, 1978, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Coastal Regulation Zones Notifications to submit that the issue arising for consideration is covered by these laws.
However, the bench of Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Atul Sharachchandra Chandurkar expressed concern “about a Nodal Agency in the Ministry of Environment & Forest and Climate Change as the presence of a Nodal Agency in the form of continuing institution becomes important for conserving and protecting sea turtles”.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on August 6, 2025, directed the Member Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to act on the matter of illegal waste management in the vacant plots within the residential area of Sushant City – 2 on Mansa Road in Bathinda.
The applicant had raised a grievance against the M/s VKM Township which manages and controls Sushant City – 2. The grievance of the applicant was against the open and illegal dumping of untreated sewer effluent, solid waste and construction debris in the vacant plots.
The petitioner said PPCB had conducted the site inspection and submitted the report dated July 26, 2025, confirming the allegation. But thereafter, no action has been taken, and the matter is likely to be closed by the PPCB.
PPCB was directed to take remedial and punitive action in pursuance to the report dated July 26, 2025 “by duly following the principles of natural justice, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of two months”.
The work of re-excavation of a water body in Mahestala municipality requires more time, stated the report by the district magistrate and collector of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. It was filed before the NGT on August 7, 2025.
The executive officer, Mahestala municipality, said a tender was issued to restore the pond on June 26, 2025. Due to non-participation, the tender did not mature, and a second tender was issued on August 6, 2025, for re-excavation work.
The municipality has engaged labourers to remove soil from the pond, considering the urgency of the matter and compliance of the NGT order. The work is facing hindrances due to heavy downpour. Thus, the municipality has estimated approximately four more weeks for completion of the work.