The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently issued notice to the State of Assam after a news item alleged that forest officials bypassed mandatory procedures under the Forest (Conservation) Act to illegally divert 44 hectares of protected forest land for Commando Battalion headquarters in Barak Valley.A coram of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr A Senthi Vel determined that the report raised a substantial issue regarding compliance with environmental norms.Hence, the tribunal took cognisance of the same based on a news report published on December 25, 2023 in Northeast Now News titled "Assam: PCCF MK Yadava accused of illegally clearing protected forest for Commando Battalion".The report alleged that Assam government's top forest officials had illegally diverted 44 hectares of protected forest land for a Commando Battalion headquarters in Barak Valley bypassing the mandatory procedures under the Forest (Conservation) Act.It said that permission was granted for construction of the 2nd Assam Command Battalion Unit headquarters inside the Inner Line of Reserved Forest in Hailakandi district.The report further stated that Inner Line Reserved Forest, established in 1877, is a sprawling 1,10,000-hectare expanse, known for its rich biodiversity, including endangered species like the Hoolock Gibbon, Slow Loris and Clouded Leopard and it serves as a crucial habitat for Elephants, Tigers, and a variety of birdlife.After recording that a substantial environmental norm compliance issue was raised, the Tribunal impleaded the following as respondents in the matter-
1. Inspector General of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
2. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & Head of Forest Force (HoFF), Assam Forest Department
3. Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam Forest Department
4. Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate, District Hailakandi
Since respondents 1 and 2 were represented, the NGT issued notice to respondents 3 and 4 before listing the matter for further hearing on February 15.The Allahabad High Court administration recently directed all officers and officials in different sections of the High Court to be humble and cooperative when interacting with the advocates and their clerks.The Registrar General has issued several such directions in an office order dated January 24."Learned counsel are the generous class, serving society by representing poor, marginalized and deprived people of the society. Therefore, they must be dealt with patience and utmost regard. The sections must espouse the utmost composure while dealing with learned counsel," the office order read.All court officers and officials are required to handle interactions with counsel with courtesy, ensuring their conduct and manners reflect a suitable level of humility, it added.All Registrars/Joint Registrars, serving as supervisory authorities, were also instructed to organize briefing sessions to ensure such conduct within sections under their supervision.
As per order, the purpose of these sessions would be to cultivate appropriate etiquette and demeanor among all officers and officials, to guide them on how to address lawyers and their clerks with patience and composure."All concerned are directed to make sincere efforts to ensure that no such incident takes place, where learned counsel have to make complaint regarding the bad / rude behavior of any staff," the officer order read.Furthermore, it was recommended that a training session be organized by various Registrars to raise awareness among the staff next month.
TAGS: National Green Tribunal (NGT) State of Assam Forest officials Forest (Conservation) Act Commando Battalion Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava
