The Hindu : National : Apex court directive on population policy

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Tuesday, Jan 03, 2006

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National

Apex court directive on population policy

Legal Correspondent

Notice issued to all States, Union Territories

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to all States and Union Territories asking them to indicate the action taken by them in implementing the National Population Policy, 2000.

A Bench, comprising Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P.P. Naolekar, issued the notice on an application filed by Azadi Bachao Andolan which said that the policy had not been implemented so far.

The petitioner submitted that pursuant to the announcement of the policy, the National Commission for Population (NCP) was constituted in May 2000 but its first meeting was held only in July 2005. This had caused a serious impact on the immediate, medium and long term objectives set under the policy.

Citing an instance, it said the policy envisaged that by 2010 the population should be 110 crores, instead of 116 crores as per the present projection. The objective could not be achieved now because for the past five years the Commission had not taken any action.

It said that under the policy, States and Union Territories should have put in place separate policies but so far none had come out with a policy.

Further, besides the setting up of the NCP, the 2000 policy also envisaged constitution of several bodies. Even this had not been done.

The petitioner sought adirection for measures that might be necessary for effective implementation of the 2000 policy and to direct them to incorporate such measures which might promote and help in achieving the aims and objectives of the 2000 policy.

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