Sc Fines Two Ministries For Disobedience

The Supreme Court has pulled up two Union ministries for non-compliance of its directive. They have been slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000 each. Those involved are the ministry of labour and environment and the ministry of forests.

The apex court's action followed the labour ministry's failure to furnish information on hazardous waste units in the country despite the court orders of December 10, 1999 and then on February 7. The labour ministry's plea was that it could not comply with the directive because the ministry of environment and forests did not supply it with the necessary particulars. "It is quite evident that between these two ministries except for exchange of correspondence nothing else has happened, and the orders of this court remain uncomplied with," the court observed.

 

The court said, "As is usually the case with the Union of India," the labour ministry has prayed for a time of two more months, seeking to put the blame on the environment ministry that it did not supply it with facts. Although the court accepted the plea, it put a condition that the two ministries each deposit Rs 10,000 as fine which they could recover from the concerned officers responsible for non-compliance of the court orders.