Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday urged for better coordination between officers and lawyers dealing with environment cases in courts and tribunals to ensure that the Government’s stand on cases is presented in the correct perspective that may lead to fast disposal.
Speaking at a day-long workshop where lawyers and Ministry officials got an opportunity to interact together, Javadekar said that the protection of environment rested jointly on all organs of the State. Attending the workshop were empanelled lawyers representing the Ministry across the country, from the SC, HC, NGT and Central Administrative Tribunal.
The Minister focused on many problems encountered in handling of cases in judicial forums and felt that better coordination was the key to explain the rationale of various decisions taken by the Ministry, for which he exhorted both the counsels and officers to handle cases with passion and efficiency.
law Secretary PK Malhotra felt there was an urgent need to ensure frivolous litigations are nipped at the notice stage itself. Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand lauded the effort to organize such a workshop as she felt that the growing importance of environment in society will require the Ministry to raise a specialised cadre of environmental lawyers.