Lake protection: Kerala HC proposes formation of Ashtamudi wetland authority
The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji was considering a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Adv Boris Paul and others, which highlighted that the depletion and deterioration of the Ashtamudi wetlands are due to multiple factors, including pollution from drainage discharge and encroachments.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The petitioners emphasised the need for an authority other than the State Wetland Authority of Kerala (SWAK) to oversee the conservation and protection of the lake. Initially, the state govt opposed the suggestion, contending that the constitution of a separate authority other than SWAK may not be necessary. However, considering the current condition of Ashtamudi Lake, which is a notified Ramsar site, the court concurred with the petitioners' suggestion.
A Ramsar site is a wetland identified as being of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands which is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
The court, meanwhile, also took note of the petitioners' point that the indiscriminate discharge of sewage and solid waste from residential areas and commercial establishments into the lake has been a major concern.
HC observed that, in addition to the general supervision by the state wetland authority, specific attention through a dedicated authority or committee for the Ashtamudi wetland is necessary. It further directed the state govt to clarify whether an integrated management plan has been prepared for the Ashtamudi wetland, as envisaged under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and the guidelines of the Ramsar Convention.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
It was also suggested that the members of ALWA may be drawn from various departments. The court stated that the environment department principal secretary shall finalise the composition of the committee and recommend one expert each in wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and socio-economics, along with two experts in wetland management, preferably with expertise related to the Ashtamudi wetland.
The principal secretary shall file an affidavit indicating the procedure by which the Authority will function. Accordingly, HC adjourned the petition to July 1.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
HC notice to govt on PIL seeking mining ops suspension
Panaji: The Bombay high court on Thursday issued a notice to Goa govt in a PIL filed by Goa Foundation seeking the suspension of all mining operations in Goa post-monsoon until regulatory measures are in place. Goa Foundation is also seeking directions to appoint a high-level committee headed by a retired HC judge to ensure that there is a satisfactory regulatory mechanism in place. The NGO is seeking the intervention of the HC to enforce directions by the Supreme Court along with statutory provisions under the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulatory Act 1957, Goa (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage, Transportation of Minerals) Rules 2013, and Goa Mineral Policy 2013. The petition concerns the recommencement of mining activities in Goa, alleging that this is being done without any semblance of a regulatory system in place. The PIL states that the state's mineral resources are collectively owned by its citizens and must be managed transparently and responsibly. The state stands to receive approximately Rs 87,528 crore from the auction of the first 12 major mineral blocks, an amount nearly four times Goa's projected budget revenue for the financial year 2025-26, Goa Foundation submitted to the HC. As interim relief, Goa Foundation is seeking adequate staff to ensure 24x7 supervision and control over mining activity at mining blocks, dumps, plants, stockyards, jetties, or elsewhere, and during transport between locations. They are also requesting an independent laboratory for the purpose of grading ores and determining the presence of associated minerals in areas selected for mining blocks. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Foreigners on bail but detained due to invalid visas released by court
Panaji: The Bombay high court released nine foreigners who had pending cases against them, largely NDPS cases. Although they were granted bail, they were at the detention centre for foreigners in Mapusa because they did not have valid visas to stay in Goa. The HC held that considering the length of time consumed in the conclusion of the trial, they cannot be indefinitely detained. They deserve their release, subject to conditions that they can be allowed an E-visa so that they do not get out of the system and their movements can be monitored. The foreigners—four from Nigeria, two from Russia, one from Israel, and one from Kazakhstan—went to HC stating they were being sent to the detention centre on the grounds that their visas for staying in India had expired. Their lawyers stated that they faced the difficulty of not being allowed to be deported as they must face trial. On the other hand, by denying visas to them, their stay in the country is termed illegal The division bench, comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita Mehta, held that they deserve to be released by stipulating that they furnish their permanent address and mobile number to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) with an undertaking that their phone shall be kept operational and active at all times. In cases where their visa has expired, the court has given them the liberty to make fresh applications. The HC stated that it expects expeditious decisions, not later than eight weeks, in cases where applications for visas are pending. . Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘Court cannot have blinkered vision for paltry remuneration': Gujarat HC orders increased pay for Anganwadi workers, helpers
Stating that the duties and obligations of Anganwadi workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) are 'onerous' and 'influence the lowest strata of the social fabric', the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday modified and partially reversed a 2024 single-judge order of the HC that had ruled that the AWWs and AWHs should be treated similar to the regularly selected permanent employees holding civil posts in the State or Central Government. In its order, Division bench of Justice AS Supehia and Justice RT Vachhani on Wednesday directed the State government departments to, jointly or exclusively, pay the minimum monthly wages of Rs 14,800 over and above of Rs 10,000 to the AWWs, which is a total of Rs 24,800. The sum is less than the fixed pay of Mukhiya Sevika (of Rs 40,800). Correspondingly, the AWHs shall also be paid the minimum wages of Rs 14, 800, in addition to Rs, 5,500, making a total of Rs 20,300, the court order said. The court has ordered that the AWWs and AWHs should be paid the arrears from the Financial Year that commenced in April 2025, within 'six months from the receipt of the high court order'. Stating that the directions would apply to all AWWs and AWHs working in all Anganwadi Centres across the state, without necessitating fresh petitions before the court, the HC said that the principle of 'equal pay and equal work' cannot be applied to AWWs and AWHs or be compared to any other Class-III or Class-IV employees. The court order stated, 'The onerous and arduous duties and obligations involving pregnant and lactating women and minors, which is unmatched to the duties of other part-time employees… There is also a huge difference between the onerous duties rendered by the AWWs and AWHs and the part-timers employed by other State Departments.' The court said, 'The duties and obligations of AWWs and AWHs influence the lowest strata of social fabric, and their duties cannot be compared to the duties rendered by other part timers engaged for six hours by the State Departments, for whom the policy of minimum wages of paying Rs 14,800 is implemented vide circular dated July 16, 2019. The amount of Rs.14,800 in the said Circular, is fixed from January 1, 2019, considering the minimum wages payable to Class-IV employees.' The court stated that as per the directions of the Supreme Court in the case of Maniben (supra), the AWWs and AWHs were declared to be holding statutory posts. '… the direction issued by the learned Single Judge to treat them at par with regularly selected permanent employees holding posts either in the Central Government or State Government is fallible, since there is fundamental difference in their source of recruitment. There is also a vast difference in their mode and manner of recruitment, requisite educational qualifications etc…,' said the court. The court order further said, 'The AWWs and AWHs, though can be said to be holding statutory posts, and their appointments are neither illegal nor irregular, they still have to satisfy the mandate of the Gujarat Civil Services Classification and Recruitment (General) Rules, 1967, more particularly Rule 4 and Rule 9 thereof. The AWWs cannot be treated at par with Subordinate Service of Class-III. Similarly, AWHs cannot be considered at par with Inferior Service of Class-IV. Class-III and Class-IV employees in the State Government Departments, after undergoing the recruitment process as prescribed under Rules 9 by the respective departments, are placed in particular pay scales.' The court also noted that despite the top court order on the subject of wages, anganwadi workers and helpers are not being paid minimum wages. Referring to an affidavit of July 18, 2025, in which the state had showed the data of the entire state, the court order said, 'On a perusal of the same, we did not find any increase in the wages of the AWWs and AWHs and their plight remains inexorable, hence, this Court cannot have blinkered vision for the paltry remuneration paid to them.'
