The Jharkhand High Court in a PIL concerning the environment in Ranchi, particularly air pollution, directed the State Government to file a counter to the issues raised in the petition, and asked Government to report what steps it has taken under the relevant law.
Rajneesh Mishra filed a petition on the notice of the court regarding the situation of air pollution in Ranchi.
Counsel for the petitioner, Dileep Jerath pleaded that there is no safeguards or mechanisms provided to check the prevailing air pollution on the city and some mechanism must be put in place so that the pollution can then be appropriately addressed.
He pointed out that there is increasing air pollution in the city and if this is not checked in time it can lead to an appalling situation leading to environmental imbalance.
The Division Bench of Justice MY Eqbal and Justice DK Sinha heard the petition and then directed the State to file a counter and inform the court as to what steps have been taken by the Government under the Environmental Protection Act. It then fixed the next date of hearing on the matter for next month.
In yet another PIL filed on defalcation or embezzlement from State funds filed by Ram Nath Mahato, the court directed the State counsel to file affidavit today itself and fixed the case for Wednesday.
