Supreme Court to examine if law is diluting India’s wetland count
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Bills, Acts & ordinances· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Supreme Court agreed to review a petition challenging the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, on the grounds that they dilute wetland protections and violate the Ramsar Convention, 1971.
Background
Environmental activists led by Ravindra Sinha filed a petition arguing that the 2017 rules exclude human-made wetlands from protection. The petitioners claim this contradicts a previous Supreme Court ruling that mandated protection for all identified wetlands.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyWetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017: Rules governing the identification and protection of wetlands in India
- Intl. orgRamsar Convention, 1971: International treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands
- FactThe 2017 rules are challenged for specifically excluding human-made wetlands from legal protection
For Mains
Q. Critically analyze the legal and ecological implications of excluding human-made wetlands from conservation frameworks under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Legal inconsistency: Conflict between 2017 Rules and prior judicial mandates for universal wetland protection
- International compliance: Potential breach of Ramsar Convention obligations regarding wetland conservation
- Ecological integrity: Risk of degradation to human-made wetlands which serve as critical urban biodiversity hubs
Keywords: Ramsar Convention · Wetland Conservation · Judicial Review · Environmental Governance · Legal Dilution
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.