The Uttarakhand High Court disposed of a Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the burning of dried oak leaves leading to pollution in and around Nainital.
The PIL was initiated on the basis of a letter dated 24.03.2022, received from a law student of Delhi University.
Upon registration of suo motu proceedings, notices were issued to the State of Uttarakhand, through Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun; the District Collector, Nainital, and ;the Nagar Palika Parishad, Nainital through its Executive Officer.
Counter-affidavits have been filed on the record by Satyaprakash Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Forest, Government of Uttarakhand, and by Ashok Kumar Verma, Executive Officer, Nagar Palika Parishad, Nainital,District Naintal, wherein they stated that oak leaves are not being burned either in the forest area, or in Nainital municipal area. According to the Nagar Palika Parishad, Nainital, District Nainital, they have created compost pits where such dried oak leaves are collected for composting.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice R.C. Khulbe took the statements of respondents on record who shall remain bound by the same.
“The respondents shall ensure that no burning of dried oak leaves takes place, either in the municipal area of Nainital, or in the forest area of Nainital district. In case, any breach of this undertaking is brought to the notice of this Court, this Court shall consider taking action under the Contempt of Courts Act against those found responsible for the same,” the Court directed.