Date:23/09/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/23/stories/2003092300961300.htm

National

10 States fined for not introducing environment in curriculum

By J. Venkatesan

New Delhi Sept. 22. The Supreme Court today slapped a fine of Rs. 15,000 each on 10 States for their failure to respond to the court notice to implement an earlier order directing the introduction of "environment" as a subject in school and college curriculum. A Bench, comprising Justice N. Santosh Hegde and Justice B.P. Singh, imposed the fine on Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Jharkhand for not responding to the court's notice issued on an application from noted environmentalist lawyer, M.C. Mehta.

The Bench asked the States to deposit the amount within four weeks in the Registry and granted additional time to file their responses. The judges made it clear that if the response was not filed or the fine amount not deposited within the stipulated time, the Chief Secretaries concerned would be held responsible. It posted the matter for further hearing on October 28.

On an application from Mr. Mehta, seeking implementation of the November 1991 judgment, the Bench 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 All India Council for Technical Education.

In November 1991, a three-Judge Bench of the court had directed the University Grants Commission to prescribe a course on environment in the graduation and post-graduation level and consider feasibility of making this a compulsory subject at every level in college education. "So far as education up to the college level is concerned, we would require every State Government and every education board connected with education up to the matriculation or even Intermediate colleges to immediately take steps to enforce compulsory education on environment in a graded way," the court had said. The court had directed compliance with the order by the academic year 1992-93. It had made it mandatory for theatres to exhibit free of cost at least two slides on importance of environment protection and had directed the licensing authorities to cancel the licences of those theatres which did not comply with the order.