SC Pulls Up Centre For Non-Compliance Of 22-Yr-Old Order On Environment Studies

Chief Justice of India JS Khehar has slammed the Central government in a sarcastic manner, saying the government will never do anything as it has set up a committee to see whether court's directions are complied or not by the states. It is a wonderful idea to implement our directions, the Supreme Court said.

More than two decade after its directions to the Centre, states and universities to introduce ‘Environment Studies’ as compulsory subject in all government and private educational institutions in undergraduate and graduate courses across the country, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) AS Patwalia has sought more time for implementation of the court order.

He submitted that the implementing authorities were state governments and a committee was set up to oversee the process.

The bench asked: "Why are you walking out of your responsibilities? The government will never do anything."

"You are that party who doesn't bother to comply with court's directions," the bench also noted while hearing an application filed by environment activist MC Mehta bringing to the court's notice that the apex court's 1991 order in MC Mehta vs UoI was not complied with.

Mehta submitted that some states have introduced the subject even in colleges, but the teachers do not have expertise in the subject like other subjects.