Guidelines for environmental regulatory bodies by SC

Context: The SC stated that bodies and authorities responsible for enforcing environmental laws must be held accountable, operate with transparency, and be efficient in their operations.

What is the statement made by the Supreme Court?

• The Supreme Court also highlighted the numerous statutory environmental regulators and bodies that have been established over the years, including the Animal Welfare Board of India, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Coastal Zone Management Authority, Central Groundwater Board, and National Biodiversity Authority.
  • These bodies form the foundation of environmental governance in the country.
• The court decision to approve the Centre’s notification resulted in the establishment of a permanent expert committee called the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which would assist the Supreme Court on environment and forest issues.
• The members of the CEC would be selected by the Centre for a specific period of time and assigned specific responsibilities.
• In its order, the Supreme Court emphasised that institutionalisation entails adherence to norms of efficiency, integrity, and certainty.
• It stressed the importance of these bodies working in accordance with these institutional norms, as they play a vital role in environmental governance in India.
• To ensure the proper functioning of environmental regulatory bodies and authorities, the Supreme Court issued guidelines for regular performance audits.
• These audits would contribute to the institutionalisation of these bodies and establish a robust framework for environmental governance in India.

Institutionalisation:

• Institutionalisation is a complex process that seeks to set a systematic body of rules and standards governing the conduct of individuals either in organisations or entire society.
• It includes the perpetual development of rules and procedures and is defined by its dynamic nature.
• This multifaceted process can be broken down into three discernible actions: rule formation or rule making, rule adjustment, and finally rule replacement.

Importance of Institutionalisation of environmental bodies:

• The institutionalisation of the environmental bodies will have many advantages such as ensuring their areas of responsibilities and authority, making their rules and regulation public, having a procedure for granting permissions and consent, determining the norms for public hearings and appeals, establishing periodic audit for accountability, and increasing their efficiency, integrity, and independence.
• This institutionalization is important because new institutions and regulators appear in environmental governance.
• These bodies are very crucial in protecting, restoring and developing the environment.

Conclusion:

• The focus on establishing proper institutions and bodies to enforce environmental laws highlights the court’s dedication to creating a strong framework for protecting the environment.
• This is a positive development that promotes sustainable practices and preserves ecological integrity.

Source: HT

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