MANI KUMAR SUBBA Vs. STATE OF SIKKIM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed as a 'Public Interest Litigation' by one Mani Kumar Subba. In paragraph 2, Mani Kumar Subba has described himself as follows:-

(2.) The purport of filing the instant writ petition is primarily based on the natural disaster, which happened on the intervening night of 3rd and 4th of October, 2023, resulting in loss of lives and properties due to massive flooding of the river Teesta, which was probably caused by a glacial lake outburst that occurred in the upper reaches of the Himalayas.

(3.) According to the learned Advocate for the writ petitioner - referring to paragraph 19 of the writ petition - this disaster could have been prevented if a State Committee on dam safety was constituted within a period of 180 days from the date of commencement of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which came into effect from 14/12/2021. However, the principal prayer in the writ petition has been set out in prayer 'a', which is reproduced hereinbelow:-