IN COURT

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on May 23 imposed a fine of 2 lakh on the Northern Railways for not filing a report on the gas leak that took place near Tughlakabad container depot in May last year and led to the hospitalisation of over 400 children. Five members of the Kokna tribal community have moved the Bombay High Court to oppose their rehabilitation for the construction of the Mumbai Metro III corridor. In their petition, they have claimed they are original inhabitants of the land and, hence, cannot be evicted. NGT on May 24 directed the Central and Punjab pollution control boards to jointly inspect the spots affected by pollution in the rivers Sutlej, Beas and the Buddha Nala and submit a report in two weeks over deaths of fish and other aquatic animals.

Amid the water crisis in Shimla, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on May 30 ordered to snap water connections of 224 hotels and guest houses that have not deposited their water bills. Two days earlier, the court took suo motu notice of the water crisis and directed the municipal corporation to file a status report.

The Madras High Court on May 30 asked the Centre to instruct state governments to reduce weight of schoolchildren's bags and do away with homework for classes 1 and 2. The court has also asked CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) to set up flying squads to inspect schools violating the new directive.

"Should we ask monkeys not to procreate or bite people till the government comes out with a method to sterilise them," the Delhi High Court wondered on May 24, while hearing a public interest litigation going on since 2001 over the menace of monkeys and dogs in the capital.