Sensitise masses to restore ecological balance: Chief Justice of High Court of J&K and Ladakh
Srinagar, March 3
J&K Judicial Academy, in collaboration with WWF-India, organised a two-day orientation programme on “Wildlife and Forest Conservation Laws” for judicial officers and officials of the J&K Forest Department from across the Jammu province at the academy in Janipur, Jammu, a government spokesman said.
The orientation programme was e-inaugurated by High Court of J&K and Ladakh Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh. The Chief Justice, in his inaugural address, said environmental degradation was mostly a result of human activities such as deforestation, vehicular pollution and industrialisation which has led to environmental pollution and loss of biodiversity.
He said educating the masses about the importance of protecting the environment is an effective way to restore the ecological balance. He stated that the infrastructural and industrial growth in the region has boosted its economy, but at the same time air is getting polluted as brick kilns in many districts of J&K are adding to air pollution. He added that global warming in J&K has led to a change in snowfall patterns and warmer winters, affecting the ecosystem at large. He urged peopel to act responsibly towards the environment and strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection so that J&K stays beautiful, befitting its nickname, ‘Paradise on Earth’.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar said: “Our connection with nature is as old as our civilisation. India has a rich ancient tradition of protecting the environment which in turn, has made the people of India worship and embrace nature in every way possible.”
He said the principle of sustainable development is to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. “Climate change is being debated widely worldwide. So, the need of the hour is sustainable development. The doctrine of sustainable development was first applied by the Supreme court in the case of Vellore Citizen Welfare Forum versus Union of India, the Supreme Court while maintaining the principle of Polluter Pay and Pecuniary Principle as a piece of ecological law articulated that securing the damaged piece of the climate is an integral part of the course of sustainable development, and subsequently in the current case, the polluter was held responsible to pay harms to the victims just as harms for recuperation of the damaged climate.”
Air pollution on rise
Infrastructural and industrial growth in the region has boosted economy, but at the same time, air is getting polluted as brick kilns in many districts are adding to air pollution. — N Kotiswar Singh, HC Chief Justice
