Karnataka High Court Issues Notice On PIL To Regulate Practice Of "Asthi Visarjan" In Cauvery River But Refuses Interim Relief
Mustafa Plumber
29 July 2024 9:15 AM GMT
The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued notice to the State government and other respondents on a public interest litigation seeking to regulate the practise of "Asthi Visarjan" along the river Cauvery and to ensure that it is done only at designated spots which would be earmarked by the authorities.
A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind issued notice on the plea filed by Kushal Kumar Koushik and others and directed the respondents to file their reply in the matter by September 11. However, it orally refused interim relief in the matter.
Counsel for the petitioners submitted that several reports even from the government have stated about the rise of pollution in the river and thus prayed for a direction to strictly implement guidelines and rules to practise "Asthi visarjan" and its allied rituals only at designated spots.
A direction is also sought to recognize the river as a "juristic person" as the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and its tributaries have been recognized by the Uttarakhand High Court. Petitioners further pray that the government be directed to constitute a Committee or appoint a body of persons who can act as a "person of the river Cauvery" and who can sue or be sued on behalf of the river like a juristic person would.
In the interim, Petitioners sought a stay on Asthi visarjane and other ritualistic practices being carried out at private properties along the riverbank, throughout Srirangapatna.
Case Title: KUSHAL KUMAR KOUSHIK & Others AND State of Karnataka & Others
Case No: WP 21/2024
