Set up environment regulator: Apex court to Centre
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday directed the central government to set up the national environment regulator with its offices in all the states to oversee the implementation of the various projects having environmental implications. The apex court green bench headed by Justice A.K. Patnaik said the environment regulator should be set up by March 31 this year. Pronouncing the order, Justice Patnaik said the permission under the Forest Act will rest with the ministry of environment and forests, but the regulator will oversee the implementation of the Forest Policy of 1988. The court said matters covered under environment impact assessment notification of 2006 will now be dealt with by the regulator. (IANS)
Take further action on inquiry report against VS’ son: HC
Kochi: Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Vigilance Director to take further action on the inquiry report against V A Arunkumar, son of CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan on various charges against him. The order in this regard was passed by a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A M Shaffiqu on a public interest litigation filed by Abdul Haq. When the case was taken up today, government submitted before the court in a sealed cover, the inquiry report against Arunkumar, presently the Joint Director of the Institute of Human Resource Development (IHRD). The Bench said that in view of filing of the report no further action on the PIL seeking time bound completion of the vigilance inquiry was needed. The vigilance inquiry was initiated on the basis of a complaint filed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy while he was the opposition leader. When Achutanandan was Chief Minister, Chandy had levelled 11 charges, including Arunkumar’s foreign trips as Director of IHRD during the fag end of LDF rule. There were also allegations of Rs 7 lakh bribe taken from the sandalwood mafia in 2004 and his role in scuttling the CBI probe in the lottery scam. (PTI)
Five lawyers sworn-in as HC judges
Mumbai: Five lawyers were on Monday sworn-in as additional judges of the Bombay High Court. Lawyers Vinay Manohar Deshpande, Ajey Gadkari, Nitin Sambre, Girish Kulkarni and B S Colabawalla were sworn-in today morning in the presence of Bombay High Court Chief Justice Mohit Shah and other judges. With these appointments, the number of High Court judges has gone up to 65. The notification appointing the five lawyers as additional judges of the High Court was issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice on January 2. All the five judges commenced work today with them being assigned to division benches along side a senior judge. The judges later had a meeting with lawyers during lunch session. While Justice Kulkarni was assigned to a division bench hearing civil matters, Justice Gadkari was assigned to a bench along side Justice P V Hardas hearing criminal matters. (PTI)