ROHIT CHOUDHURY Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. A. Phukan, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. P.N. Goswami, learned Additional Advocate General, Assam, assisted by Mr. D.K. Sarmah, learned Additional Senior Government Advocate, Assam appearing for the respondent Nos.1 & 2 on the issue of maintainability of this PIL petition.

(2.) The petitioner has approached this Court while stating that he is an Environmental Activist, who has taken up various issues relating to wildlife and the environment before the various Courts and Tribunals. It is further stated that the petitioner has successfully taken up various causes relating to the violation of wildlife laws in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Manas Tiger Reserve and Deepor Beel Wetlands. The petitioner has also highlighted that he has approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata in the year 2024 pertaining to diversion of 28 hectares of forest land at Geleky Reserve Forest, Sibsagar Territorial Division without obtaining the mandatory prior Forest Clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

(3.) The present writ petition in the design of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is filed by the petitioner claiming the following reliefs: