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Questioning the validity of its formation, the Supreme Court Monday restrained the recently re-constituted National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) from executing any decision taken by it, thereby putting on hold more than 100 projects cleared by it.
The Green Bench, led by Justice J S Khehar, issued notices to the Centre and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), while admitting a petition that challenged the reconstitution of the Wildlife Board.
The bench, also comprising Justices J Chelameswar and A K Sikri, said: “We are of the view that the same (the notification altering the constitution of the NBWL in the impugned manner) was not issued in consonance of the Section 5A of the Wildlife Protection Act.” The order added that the NBWL “may continue to function but shall not give effect to any order till the next date of hearing”.
The amicus curiae in the case, advocate A D N Rao, also supported the move to put implementation of decisions on hold till the validity of the formation of the Board was decided.
The NBWL, chaired by the Prime Minister, is an apex body under the Wildlife Protection Act, to review all wildlife-related matters. Its standing committee, headed by the Union Environment Minister is empowered to appraise all projects that fall within or around national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves.
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