Gujarat High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL For Proper Maintenance Of Ramsar Wetland Sites In State

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday (January 29) took suo-motu cognizance for the maintenance of wetlands in the areas of Nalsarovar, Wadhwana Wetland, Thol Lake, Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary and Nadabet in the state. A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi noted that the present PIL had been registered as suo motu petition in view of Supreme Court's December 11, 2024 order so as to monitor the proper maintenance of the RAMSAR (wetland) sites that are within the jurisdiction of the court.For context, the Supreme Court had in its December 11, 2024 order passed in a 2018 pending PIL had directed its Registrar General to send the complete list of the updated RAMSAR sites to all the High Courts and had asked the High Courts to treat the affidavit as a Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation where an Amicus be appointed, if necessary, to assist the Court and ensure that the RAMSAR Sites within their jurisdiction are properly maintained. Notably, the RAMSAR sites are wetlands which form part of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat which is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar sites. Senior advocate Gautam Joshi, who appears as amicus curiae in the matter, said that the State has to say what has been done. He further said that there is another wetland which is "probably the largest" in India located at Nadabet at the Indo-Pak border wherein half of it is in Gujarat and the other half is in Pakistan. The court while dictating its order noted that Joshi had volunteered to visit these sites. The court noted Joshi's submission that apart from four wetlands mentioned in the order of the Supreme Court, there is one more wetland located at Nadabet.The Court thereafter said, “Mr. Joshi volunteers to visit these wetlands in order to have a first-hand experience of the manner in which they are being maintained.” The court further asked the amicus to submit a report and listed the matter on March 12.Case Title: Suo Motu vs State of Gujarat & Ors.R/WPPIL/5/2025

Gujarat High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL For Proper Maintenance Of Ramsar Wetland Sites In State

Lovina B Thakkar

Tags