The Supreme Court of India, on Tuesday, emphasized the urgency for the Uttarakhand government to take proactive measures to mitigate forest fires, many of which are man-made, before the next fire season begins. This directive comes alongside the court’s decision to schedule the next hearing of the case for September.
During the proceedings, led by Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Vishwanathan, the court revisited its previous stance from May 17, asserting the necessity to protect the valuable forests from the threat of fires. The bench acknowledged that the litigation related to the forest fires in Uttarakhand was not unfavorable, but underscored the critical need for readiness.
“Currently, there is nothing [immediately threatening], but you must rectify everything before the next season,” the bench stated, highlighting that the monsoon season had already commenced in the hilly state.
The court also reflected on the disparity between the positive reports presented during the last hearing and the grim reality reported shortly thereafter in newspapers, where it was noted that four forest guards had tragically lost their lives to forest fires.
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A lawyer referenced the order from May 17, mentioning that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had proposed that a meeting would be convened involving the state’s Chief Secretary, the Amicus Curiae, a representative from the Central Empowered Committee, and Senior Advocate Rajiv Dutta, who had filed the application concerning the forest fires. These meetings have reportedly taken place, with more scheduled for August.
