MANEKA GANDHI Vs. STATE OF J AND K

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A communication was received from Mrs. Maneka Gandhi, environmentalist, complaining of mushroom growth of Charcoal Bhatties in Kathua district and the damage caused by these bhatties to the forests and environment, within the District. She has submitted that there was no regulation for setting up or running of these Bhatties and that it was free for all to set up these Bhatties, which resulted in damage to the forest and all Bhatti owners were resorting to smuggling of trees from the forest, which has resulted in drying up of the water resources in the Kandi area of Katua belt, which area was already short of requisite water resources.

(2.) THIS communication was treated as public interest litigation and concerned official functionaries, including the Principal Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Chairman Pollution Control Board and Divisional Forest Officer, Kathua, were put on notice and were required to give their response to the complaint made by Mrs. Maneka Gandhi. In compliance thereto, all these officers have appeared before the Court and response/reply has been filed by PCCF and DFO, Kathua as also the Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board.