Bangalore: Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Cyriac Joseph said on Sunday that the judiciary had a track record of being environment-friendly and eco-conscious.

He was speaking at a function organised to felicitate him and his father, Joseph K. Kurien, who is a retired Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kerala.

The function was organised by the Karnataka Retired Forest Officers' Association (KRFOA) here.

"The judges in the country are practically foresters, as is evident from their judgments that are pro-environment. The Department of Forests can expect continuous support from the judiciary," he said.

He said the judges were bound constitutionally to discharge their duties effectively and be pro-environment for the benefit of the people.

"Forests are our lifelines. People in the cities are now clamouring for more green spaces," he added.

Responding to the felicitation, he said that he was happy and proud to be able to attend the "family function."

"Normally, a Chief Justice does not accept invitations to be felicitated from service organisations. However, I accepted the invitation from the association as it is from my father's department," he added.

S.S. Joshy, vice-president of the association, said the function was significant on two accounts. It was for the first time that father and son were being felicitated on the same platform and also because the son of a retired forest officer was holding the highest post in the judicial system in the State.

Mr. Joshy felicitated Mr. Kurien, while N.V. Ramachandra Chetty, president of the association, honoured Mr. Joseph.

R.M. Ray, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, spoke about the status of forests in the State.

He said the State imposed a ban on green tree felling in 1988. The forests were now back on the path of recovery. The State had a range of ecosystems; there were places with heaviest and least rainfall in the country.

The forests on 38 lakh hectares of land were being protected properly, he added.

He urged Mr. Joseph to make sure that the judiciary was sympathetic towards the cause of protecting the forests in the State. A.K. Varma, Principal Chief Conservator of Wildlife, spoke about the wildlife in the State.

He said he had sent a proposal to set up a Wildlife Crime Bureau to the Government.

With the end of forest brigand and poacher Veerappan, elephant poaching was now under control, he added.

Y. Sivasundaram, member of the association's executive committee, announced that the association would bring out a monthly newsletter and a magazine shortly.

K.L. Shivalingaiah, treasurer, spoke about the activities of the association.

K.R.V. Setty welcomed the gathering.