SC directs Sonam Wangchuk's medical examination by specialist doctor
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday directed medical examination by a specialist doctor of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after he complained of stomach issues due to water contamination.
Fifty-nine-year-old Wangchuk is under detention in the Jodhpur Central Jail.
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale also directed the jail authorities to furnish Wangchuk's medical report in a sealed cover by Monday.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo, told the court that an application seeking directions to jail authorities for immediate medical examination of the activist has been filed.
"He has problems in his stomach because of the water. He has been wanting a doctor to check. But nobody comes.
"Let him have a weekly check. And let him have the water we provide," Sibal submitted.
The counsel appearing for the Rajasthan government, however, said that he has been examined by the jail doctor 21 times in the past four months.
The top court, however, said that he needs a specialist doctor such as a gastroenterologist.
The counsel appearing for the Rajasthan government informed the court that Wangchuk has been advised Vitamin B12 and there was nothing wrong in his latest report.
Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj placed on record Wangchuk's medical report which showed that from September 26 to January 26, the activist had been examined 21 times.
Nataraj said the latest medical examination report indicates that the blood pressure is normal and even the clinical examination of the chest and the abdomen is clean.
The apex court recorded Nataraj's statement that Wangchuk will be examined by a specialist from a government hospital and a report will be filed in a sealed cover by Monday.
Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union Territory. The government has accused Wangchuk of inciting the violence.
The NSA empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner "prejudicial to the defence of India". The maximum detention period is 12 months, though it can be revoked earlier.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bombay HC to form high-powered committee on Mumbai air pollution
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Thursday said it would form a high-powered committee to oversee the compliance of measures to tackle air pollution in the Mumbai region, noting that the efforts taken so far by state and civic authorities are insufficient.
It was not criticizing anyone but wanted to ensure that "people should live in pure air," said a division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar.
The HC had in October 2023 taken suo motu cognizance of the rising pollution in the metropolis "which was ranging between good, satisfactory, moderate poor, very poor and severe", the bench noted.
Directions were issued by the court on November 6, 2023, and suggestions were made for short-term, mid-term and long-term measures.
Since then, the HC has made observations expressing dissatisfaction about the steps taken by the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai civic bodies, the judges said.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is simply "sailing on its affidavits," but the steps purportedly taken by it were not sufficient, the court stated.
Air pollution in Mumbai has not decreased, in fact it was reported to be very severe in December, said the judges.
"We have apprised ourselves of the previous orders, and find that compliances so far made by (municipal) corporations and MPCB are not sufficient and satisfactory," the court said.
The authorities might have taken serious steps but their results were not visible, it added.
The court expressed inability to examine all the affidavits filed by the municipal corporations and MPCB and reports submitted by an expert committee (formed in 2023), citing the "rising number of dockets and limited hours and time."
After hearing all the parties at length, the high court decided to form a high-powered committee led by a former Supreme Court judge to monitor the compliance of measures to tackle air pollution in Mumbai and the surrounding areas.
The committee should meet on a daily basis, the court said, adding that its members should be provided necessary facilities.
The bench also referred to a suggestion that the citizens affected by pollution should be compensated.
The lawyer for the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation said there are existing statutory bodies to look into this aspect.
"Maybe there are statutory bodies formed in Maharashtra, but then we have not come across any suggestion or action taken by such a body in the present proceedings..." the court said, adding that it was inclined to give "some powers" to the committee.
The court is expected to finalize the names of the committee members in its written order.
