Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Delhi HC quashes move restrict production of Basmati rice to Indo-Gangetic plains
The Delhi high court bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru on April 25 set aside the Ministry of Agriculture's two office memorandums and a letter restraining Basmati rice cultivation to Indo-Gangetic region to maintain quality and purity of seeds. One of the memorandums of the ministry, dated May 29, 2008, mentioned that it would be necessary to ensure the linkage between the variety and the geographical indication. It added that only Basmati varieties in Indo-Gangetic region would qualify for such description.
“Seeds Act incorporates due participation by the state government" and the objective of the Seeds Act is to regulate the quality of seeds not to restrict the area where the seeds could be used for production, said the HC bench while hearing a petition filed by Madhya Pradesh government. It added that agriculture is a state subject.
Draft on 'deemed forest' lying with MoEF&CC, Uttarakhand govt tells SC
A two-member Supreme Court bench of Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Vineet Saran on April 24 directed Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to report on the steps taken to finalise the draft criteria to determine what constitutes 'deemed forest' under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
NGT demands explanation on non-forest activities in reserved forest in Rajasthan
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 29 directed the principal secretary, of Rajasthan forest department, secretary of Jaipur Development Authority and executive engineer Jaipur Development Authority (Garden Van) to appear before the tribunal on the next date of hearing. The tribunal wants them to explain why even after the interim order passed in May 31, 2018 non-forest activities are still taking place at the reserve forest of Bandh Ki Gadi, Amagarh.
NGT unhappy with investigation of pollution in Nagaur
The NGT on April 29 expressed its displeasure at the non-compliance of its order of March 13, 2019 which had specifically asked Rajasthan’s medical health director to constitute a team of at least three medical doctors from Jaipur. The team was to conduct medical examination of the villagers from Koliya, Naka ke Dhani, Nozalo ke Dhani and Bandolai ke Dhani in Didwana tehsil in Nagaur district to examine the health effects of stone crushing units operating there. Instead of the director, the Directorate of Medical, Health & Family Welfare Services constituted the team.
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