HC disposes of suo motu proceedings to declare Samanatham tank as bird sanctuary

Disposing of the suo motu proceedings initiated to declare Samanatham tank in Madurai as a bird sanctuary, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday observed that such decisions have to be taken by the government on the recommendation of the competent authorities and after obtaining expert reports from the authorities concerned.
A Division Bench of Justices S. M. Subramaniam and A. D. Maria Clete observed that no doubt bird migration activities were going on in Samanatham tank in Tirupparankundram. However such decisions have to be taken by the government.
For declaration of the tank as a sanctuary it requires certain procedures to be followed. The High Court may not be in a position to issue a positive direction in the nature of a declaration to declare Samantnam tank as a sanctuary in terms of Section 18 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the court observed.
The court observed that it was of the considered view that authorities may take note of the facts reiterated by the Division Bench of the court while initiating the suo motu proceedings.
The Act contemplates various conditions and circumstances warranting such declaration in public interest. The court, not being an expert body, cannot substitute the expert views and directives of the executives, the court observed and disposed of the petition.
The court in February initiated suo motu proceedings to declare Samanatham tank as a bird sanctuary. The Registrar (Judicial) said that Samanatham tank was a habitat to more than 150 species of birds. These birds species were declared as nearly threatened as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN-Red List).
The tank was under the control and maintenance of the Public Works Department. Owing to the biodiversity and unique natural birds habitat, there has been an appeal to protect the waterbody by declaring it as a bird sanctuary under Section 18 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Registrar said.
The action was necessitated in light of the fact that the birds coming to the waterbody were vulnerable to poaching and easily accessible to the public which gravely threatened the natural habitat of the birds. If the waterbody was declared as a sanctuary, it would be subjected to restriction as to entry in terms of Section 27 of the Act and various other protective measures as envisaged under Chapter IV of the Act, as a protected area, the Registrar said.
Article 48 A of the Constitution ordains that the State should endeavour to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forest and wildlife of the country. There was also a fundamental duty cast on every Citizen under Article 51 A (g) to protect and improve the natural environment and wildlife, the Registrar said.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

India Gazette

an hour ago

• India Gazette

"Bengaluru Metro should learn the best from around the world": MP Tejasvi Surya

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 22 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya on Sunday criticised the Bengaluru Metro for its lack of ambition, aesthetics, and respect for commuters. In a post on X, MP Surya shared a YouTube link to a video titled 'Why Moscow Is Insanely Well Designed', urging the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to learn from international best practices. 'Bengaluru Metro should learn the best from around the world,' he post read. He particularly pointed out the Moscow Metro, highlighting its impressive train frequency of every 80 seconds and its beautifully designed stations, which he said could serve as a model for Bengaluru. 'Moscow Metro runs at 80-second frequency, covers the city with dense radial lines, costs a fraction, and every station is a work of art. Watch the video in the link below. Public transport isn't just about movement. It's about ambition, aesthetics, and respect for the commuter. But this sentiment is missing in Bengaluru,' his post read. Surya also questioned the transparency of the fare fixation process. He expressed concerns over the withholding of the fare fixation committee report, stating that the public deserves to know the reasons behind the steep pricing for the metro services. 'I have again reminded MD @OfficialBMRCL today to make public the fare fixation committee report. Why are you not making it public? What is it that you want to hide? It certainly isn't a document of national security implications that it can't be made public. We deserve a right to understand what led the committee to fix such steep prices for Metro!,' the post continued. He further emphasised the need for public transport to be the most affordable and efficient option for urban mobility, urging authorities to push for improvements in this area. 'Public transport has to be the cheapest and most efficient option for urban mobility. We need to push that. Why Moscow Is Insanely Well Designed via @YouTube,' the post read. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) was established jointly by the Central and Karnataka governments, with an equal (50-50) partnership. Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, currently serves as the Chairman of BMRCL. According to a statement, officials from both the Central and state governments hold positions as Managing Directors and Directors. Since BMRCL is an autonomous entity, the state government does not have complete control over it. Like all metro corporations across the country, BMRCL operates under the Metro Railways (Operations and Maintenance) Act, 2002, enacted by the Central government. (ANI)

New Indian Express

2 hours ago

• New Indian Express

8.5L applications received during Revenue Sadassulu: Telangana Minister Ponguleti

HYDERABAD: Revenue and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy on Saturday revealed that around 8.5 lakh applications related to land-related issues were received during the recent Revenue Sadassulu conducted by the state government. 'The recently held Revenue conferences revealed how landowners were troubled by the previous Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 2020,' he said. Srinivasa Reddy held a review meeting at the Secretariat on the just-concluded Revenue Sadassulu (conferences). During the meeting, he instructed the Revenue authorities and officials of various districts to respond promptly to the applications received from the people. After the meeting, he issued a press statement, stating that the state government was revamping the land administration system, which according to him had been completely destroyed during the BRS regime. He also said that the government was strictly implementing the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights in Land) Act, 2024, while claiming that the change is already being felt in the state. 'The new RoR Act brought transparency to land governance, which was lacking in the Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 2020. The new Act is paving the way for addressing the long-pending land issues,' he added. He said that around 60% of the approximately 46,000 applications received in the second phase have already been addressed. He said that over eight lakh applications were received from 10,239 villages during the third phase of Revenue conferences. The government has already computerised around 3.27 lakh applications, he added.

Business Standard

2 hours ago

• Business Standard

NIA arrests 2 in Pahalgam for harbouring terrorists who attacked tourists

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two men in Jammu and Kashmir for harbouring the terrorists who had carried out the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. In a statement, the NIA said the two men are locals of Pahalgam. They have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park. "They have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)," probe agency said. According to the NIA, Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack. The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, the agency said. The duo has been arrested under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Further investigations are underway. On April 22, a group of terrorists ambushed tourists holidaying in the scenic meadows of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people. The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident led to a major diplomatic escalation between India and Pakistan, with both sides suspending visa services and downgrading diplomatic presence in each other's capitals. India also suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs water-sharing between the two nations. Pakistan, on the other hand, announced the suspension of all bilateral treaties with India, including the 1972 Simla Agreement, which governs the ceasefire line in Kashmir. On May 7, India launched precision air strikes targeting nine terror launchpad in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base Muridke. Codenamed Operation Sindoor, the strikes resulted in killing of at least 100 terrorists, the government said.