HC instructs govt to identify Ramsar sites, submit report within six weeks

SHILLONG, March 18: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the state government to make a thorough identification of waterbodies or wetlands or Ramsar sites in the state and submit a report within six weeks.
The direction was issued in pursuance of an order of the Supreme Court.
Based on a writ petition, the Supreme Court had in 2001 expressed concern over the identification, maintenance and preservation of Ramsar sites, in other words, wetlands or waterbodies in all states and passed necessary orders.
Later, on December 11, 2024, based on another writ petition, the apex court referred to an affidavit of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and requested the High Courts, including the High Court of Meghalaya, to treat this affidavit as a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) “to ensure that the Ramsar Convention sites within their jurisdiction are properly maintained.”
In an order issued on Tuesday, a High Court of Meghalaya division bench, comprising Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, said this bench accordingly started the instant PIL.
“On 12th March, 2025, we took note of the letter of the Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Wetland Authority dated 14th February, 2025 informing the Registrar General of this Court on the latter’s query, that there was no notified Ramsar site in the State,” the court said in its order.
“We directed the Registrar General to serve copies of the papers on the State, learned Advocate General, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Wetland Authority and the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration), Department of Forests and Environment, Government of Meghalaya to seek confirmation of the above assertion,” the court said.
Government Advocate NG Shylla, who represented all other authorities except the Union of India, submitted that the entire body of wetlands or waterbodies may not have been inspected by the State. “On the basis of the existing inspection which may not be complete, the Member Secretary has issued the note on 24th February, 2025. She says that the State be given an opportunity of making a thorough identification of waterbodies or wetlands or Ramsar sites in the State, which may have escaped inspection and identification,” the court said.
It acceded to the prayer and directed the state government “in collaboration” with the Meghalaya State Wetland Authority and the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration) Department of Forests and Environment, Government of Meghalaya to make an intensive identification drive in terms of the Supreme Court order.
“If Ramsar sites are identified, they may be forthwith notified. Considering the fact that the order of the Supreme Court was made on 11th December, 2024, this exercise has to be made expeditiously. Mrs. NG Shylla’s clients shall file a report in this Court before the returnable date after circulating copies to all other parties. Learned Sr. GA prays for six weeks’ time to complete this exercise. Such time is granted,” the court directed.
The PIL will be heard again on April 29, 2025.
“The learned Registrar General of this Court is directed to engage a learned counsel to represent this Court before the Supreme Court on 25th March, 2025 when Writ Petition (C) No. 304 of 2018 – Anand Arya v. Union of India is scheduled to be listed and heard along with an affidavit to be filed with the leave of the Court containing, inter alia, the orders passed by this Court further to the order dated 11th December, 2024 in the above writ by the Supreme Court,” the court further stated.