SC pulls up environment ministry secy in sacred groves protection case

Jaipur: The Supreme Court has directed the secretary of ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) to personally appear before it on April 29, expressing dissatisfaction over delays in establishing an expert committee for identifying sacred groves (orans) in Rajasthan.
The order came during a hearing of the TN Godavarman Thirumulpad case on April 16, with the division bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih expressing strong disapproval of the ministry's "casual" approach to the matter. The bench issued a notice, requiring the secretary to explain why action for committing contempt of its Jan 16 order be not taken against him.
Rajasthan govt had previously submitted a recommendation for a panel headed by retired high court judge Justice Dalip Singh on Jan 8, including forest and land experts.
However, the ministry's inaction prompted the court's intervention. "The ministry should have taken a decision when specifically directed to do so before March 19, 2025," the bench observed.