The Hindu : Contempt notice to three Chief Secretaries

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 29, 2003

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Contempt notice to three Chief Secretaries

By J. Venkatesan

New Delhi Oct. 28. Taking a serious view of the disobedience of its orders with regard to a petition for the inclusion of "environment" as a subject in school and college curriculum, the Supreme Court today issued a contempt of court notice to the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana directing them to appear before it in person on November 25.

A Bench, comprising Justice N. Santosh Hegde and Justice B. P. Singh, had on September 22 issued notice to Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal and the Union Territories of Delhi, Daman and Diu, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep and other institutions to respond to the petition.

A fine of Rs. 15,000 was imposed on 10 other States for not filing their response and were given a last opportunity to file their affidavits. When the matter was taken up today, the Bench was informed that Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Haryana had not filed their responses. The Bench asked the three Chief Secretaries to appear in person before the court on November 25 to answer "why contempt of court proceedings be not initiated against them for deliberately disobeying the court orders."

On an application from environmental activist and lawyer, M.C. Mehta, seeking implementation of the November 1991 judgment, the Bench had on July 21 issued notices to the States and the Union Territories for their response in introducing environment as a subject in school and college curriculum.

Notices were also issued to the National Council for Educational Research and Training and the All-India Council for Technical Education.

On September 22 a fresh notice was issued to the States which had not filed their response.

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