New Delhi, Jan 21 (PTI) The Supreme Court Friday sought the Centre’s reply on a plea for creation of The Indian Environment Service on the lines of All India Service for environment safeguards at the ground level.
While notifying the Union Environment Ministry, a bench of Justices S K Kaul & M M Sundresh expressed doubts about whether it could issue a mandamus to create an all-India service.
However, the apex court stated that it was possible to inquire into whether the Centre intended or not to implement the recommendations of the former Cabinet Secretary-led committee.
The top court was hearing a petition filed by Samar Vijay Sing, an advocate on file. He referred the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ High-Level Committee (presided over by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian) in 2014 that recommended the creation of an All-India service called the Indian Environment Service.
The Parliament Standing Committee (PSC), however, rejected T S R Subramanian’s Report. This report reviewed various Acts administered under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. It noted that the HLC was given a three-month time period for reviewing six environmental Acts. It also recommended that the government establish a new committee to examine the laws. K Sultan Singh, senior advocate, supported the petitioner.
Further, the plea stated that there are a shortage of qualified personnel involved in administration, policy formulation and supervision of implementation of policies of central and state governments.
Many of the goals set have not been realized due to difficulties in enforcement and implementation. Given the turmoil all over the country concerning environmental issues, the creation of the All India Service The Indian Environment Service” is the need of the hour, the plea said.
It said that the constant degradation in our ecosystem requires special attention on the part of both the government and the Civil Service.
The current administrative system makes it clear that the government may not be able spare time to support environmental causes. The plea stated that it is imperative to establish an independent All India Service Indian Environment Service to provide relief for the masses.
The plea also calls for the establishment of an Indian Environmental Service Academy that will train officers in environmental law enforcement. PTI PKS SA
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