M C MEHTA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) We have perused the additional affidavit filed by Dr Shyam Lal, director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India on 16/3/2000 together with status report as also the affidavit filed by Mrs sarada Ali Khan, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource development, Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education dated 18/3/2000. A perusal of the documents shows that the status reports furnished are incomplete.

(2.) Directions were issued by this Court as early as on 22/11/1991 with a view to generate awareness relating to environmental issues. While some of the States have taken some steps to implement these directions many other states have either not taken any steps at all or have taken half-hearted steps. That is not a proper way of dealing with the orders of this Court. We express our concern.

(3.) We direct that the Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, government of India, the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and the secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development convey to this Court, on their affidavits the status of implementation of directions issued by this court on 22/11/1991 and the steps so far taken in that behalf by various states/union Territories after obtaining reports from all the States/union territories regarding implementation of the directions issued by this Court on 22/11/1991.