Jul,3,2016:

‘Developed economies like USA, and not nations like India should be blamed for climate change’

Chief Justice Thakur lambasted United States for emitting Carbon 10 times more than India for the past 200 years. Still they are pining the entire accusations for environment degradation and resultant climate change on emerging economies like India.

CJI was speaking at a International Law Conclave when he stressed that on account of excesses of industrialised nations like the U.S.the entire human race has been affected.

He lamented, the depletion of the ozone layer is not because India is emerging. Just because we are dependent on coal or because we have thermal power plants, we can not be accused of affecting the entire human adversely.

Chief Justice Thakur suggested that an international legal framework should be evolved so as to apply the principle of 'polluter pays' on the Industrilised and advanced economies like the U.S.

Criticizing the US he said that in Kyoto, despite passing of a resolution that developed economies should reduce their carbon emissions by at least one per cent, the United States flatly refused.

He stressed that India can not remain un-affected if environment is harmed in neighborhood Pakistan or Bangladesh & vice-versa. So there is an urgent need to develop an international law by taking into account the need of humanity living in both the industrialised and non-industrialised nations.

“If we do not act fast enough, we will see the next World War over river waters,” he concluded.

He refered to a 30-year-old PIL initiated by activist and lawyer M.C. Mehta to clean and rid river Ganga of pollution which was revived by Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Thakur. He posed a query to the government if cleaning up the 2,500 km long holy river can take place during its current term in power.

Chief Justice Thakur referred to Supreme Court ban on over 2000 CC  luxury diesel vehicles and SUVs in the National Capital while stating that it is a “few rich” who use these cars and these cars have become a threat to the life and health of the general public.

While the constitutional courts use their powers under Articles 32 and 226 for issuing directions to the States to perform their duties but now Supreme Court has even made the citizen liable to the co citizens.

He stressed that under Fundamental Duties enshrined in Article 51A (g) of the Constitution, every Indian citizen has been given a legal duty to “protect and improve the environment”.

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