The Supreme Court has sternly criticized the Kerala government for withholding a crucial file from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), a body established to oversee ecological compliance and recommend measures for judicial orders under the Environment Protection Act. The CEC’s role, bolstered by a statutory status granted in September 2023, is integral to aiding the Court in environmental matters, specifically in the ongoing TN Godavarman Thirumulpad case.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra, and KV Viswanathan emphasized that any attempt to withhold information from the CEC is tantamount to undermining the Court’s authority. The Court underscored the CEC’s statutory duty to support the judiciary, noting that all authorities must assist the Committee during its inquiries.
In a recent development, the Kerala government, represented by Senior Advocate PV Dinesh, sought an extension for submitting an affidavit detailing the Cardamon Hill Reserve area in Munnar, citing electoral distractions and the complexity of records. However, the Court, expressing its dissatisfaction, refused the request and summoned two officials, Land Revenue Commissioner Dr. A Kowsigan and Additional Secretary TR Jayapal, to explain why they failed to provide the requested file, threatening contempt proceedings.
Additionally, the Court addressed related issues in the Delhi Ridge, instructing the Registry to consolidate all matters under one bench to avoid conflicting rulings. It also granted the High Powered Technical Committee six months to identify areas with similar features to the Delhi Ridge.
The case will be revisited on August 21, with the summoned officials expected to justify their actions or face potential consequences.
