The Supreme Court has asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by it, to examine the issues related to the ecological disaster in Himachal Pradesh in a phased manner. This includes looking into alleged illegal constructions in the green belt of Shimla.
Court's directive on phased examination of ecological crisis
According to The Tribune, a bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta expressed concern over the inordinate delay in hearing the suo motu PIL on the ecological crisis in the Himalayan state. The bench said it would interact with state government officials and examine the CEC's status reports covering two to three issues at a time.
Next hearing scheduled for August 24
The bench directed that all additional material be placed on record and posted the matter for hearing on August 24 through virtual hearing. At the outset, amicus curiae senior advocate K Parameshwar told the bench that the matter could not be heard earlier due to other pressing cases.
Our Take: A necessary step for accountability
In our view, the Supreme Court's decision to have the CEC examine the ecological crisis in a phased manner is a practical approach. The ecological damage in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in sensitive areas like Shimla's green belt, requires careful and systematic investigation. By taking up two to three issues at a time, the court can ensure that each matter gets the attention it deserves without overwhelming the process. The next hearing on August 24 will be crucial to see how the state government responds to the CEC's findings.