Meghalaya High Court: In a public interest litigation pursuant to Supreme Court’s order for “ground truthing” of wetlands and identification of Ramsar sites amongst those waterbodies, the Division Bench of IP Mukerji*, CJ and W. Diengdoh, J. disposed of the PIL considering that none of the sites in question fell under Ramsar site per the Ramsar Convention on wetlands.
The State contended that not all waterbodies can be categorised as Ramsar sites. Waterbodies of a particular minimum area, depth, unique nature, characteristics, and natural habitat qualify as Ramsar sites. The purpose of the Supreme Court order was to ensure that the High Court passed suitable orders for the State for the identification, preservation, and maintenance of these waterbodies in accordance with the resolution taken in the Ramsar Convention.
The Court perused the report dated 29-04-2025 prepared by the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration), Department of Forests and Environment of the State government and noted that all categories of wetlands comprising of 66 lakes/ponds, 1 oxbow/cut off meander, 6 riverine wetlands, 18 waterlogged bodies, 100 river/streams, 9 reservoirs/barrages and 25 tanks/ponds were inspected by the Meghalaya State Wetland Authority and the personnel of the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration). The Court noted that none of the above wetlands qualified as a Ramsar site and that the “ground truthing” of these wetlands had been completed.
The Court directed the Registrar General to affirm an affidavit in the pending writ petition1 before the Supreme Court on behalf of the State and the Court stating the steps taken in compliance with its order, including all orders passed by the Court and the report dated 29-04-2025 of the State.
[Registrar General, High Court v. State of Meghalaya, 2025 SCC OnLine Megh 353, Decided on: 29-04-2025]
*Judgment Authored by: Chief Justice IP Mukerji
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For the Respondent: Mr. A. Kumar, AG with Ms. R. Colney, GA Dr. N. Mozika, DSGI, Ms. K. Gurung, Adv.
1. Writ Petition (C) No. 304 of 2018.
