Kerala HC unhappy over govt. not setting up dedicated authority for Periyar

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has expressed displeasure over the non-constitution of a dedicated authority or agency for the Periyar and has restrained the newly constituted monitoring committees from commencing their work until further orders. Justice Devan Ramachandran recently observed that the government order constituting the two monitoring committees “seems to fall below the requisite.” This is because the court had suggested an authority that would be perpetual and continue to meet and deliberate daily if required, rather than a committee that would choose to sit once every three or six months, as the case may be. “We cannot find much reason for the new committees, as they would merely function as monitoring bodies, and nothing more, which is unnecessary given that the court has already established a high-level committee,” the court said, adding that the purpose of its order was to constitute a powerful authority for the river that would be in a position to act immediately and swiftly when violations are found, rather than reporting to other agencies, departments, or committees and awaiting action. The court directed the newly constituted State- and district-level committees not to begin their operations until it takes a decision after receiving the government’s response on the constitution of the authority.