Ramsar Convention: Meghalaya High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL To Ensure Maintenance Of Wetlands In State

The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday (February 27) registered a suo moto PIL to ensure that the Ramsar Convention wetland sites within the State are properly maintained and ensured.

The said PIL was registered in pursuance of Supreme Court's direction requesting all High Courts to ensure that the RAMSAR Sites within their jurisdiction are properly maintained.

To summarise, the wetlands, if any, situated in the State had to be identified, maintained and preserved as they were considered to be of great heritage value of international importance.

By an administrative order dated February 6, 2025 the Wetlands authority of the State of Meghalaya was asked to furnish a report. However, the Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Wetland Authority by his letter dated February 14, 2025 informed that there was no notified Ramsar site in the State of Meghalaya.

Therefore, the Chief Justice directed to initiate a suo motu PIL to seek confirmation of the above assertion of the Wetlands authority and for other directions in compliance with the Supreme Court directive.

“Therefore, let a PIL be registered on the basis of the said affidavit of the Central government in Writ Petition (Civil) No.230 of 2001 – M.K. Balakrishnan & ors v. Union of India & ors,” the bench comprising the Chief Justice I. P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh directed.

The court further directed the Registrar General to serve copies of the papers on the State, Advocate General, Deputy Solicitor General of India, Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Wetland Authority and the Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration), Department of Forests and Environment, Government of Meghalaya by March 7. 

The matter is listed again on March 12.

Case Title: Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya v. State of Meghalaya

Case No.: PIL No.2/2025

Click Here To Read/Download Order