The Meghalaya High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of wetland conservation in the state, initiating a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to verify the Meghalaya State Wetland Authority’s claim that there are no notified Ramsar sites in the region. The move follows a Supreme Court order (December 11, 2024), directing High Courts to ensure that Ramsar Convention sites under their jurisdiction are properly maintained, recognizing wetlands as heritage sites of international importance.
Chief Justice I.P. Mukerji has directed the Registrar General to issue notices to the State Government, the Meghalaya State Wetland Authority, and the Chief Conservator of Forests by March 5, 2025. The court seeks to ensure compliance with wetland protection laws and Supreme Court directives. The Meghalaya State Wetland Authority had earlier informed the court via a February 14 letter that the state lacks officially notified Ramsar sites, a claim the court now aims to verify.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on March 12, 2025, as part of broader efforts to protect ecologically significant wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty focused on wetland conservation.
