SC expresses shock on Punjab using afforestation funds to pay lawyers

CAMPA, CREATED UNDER THE ORDERS OF THE APEX COURT ON AN ENVIRONMENTRELATED MATTER, WAS MEANT TO BE USED FOR AFFORESTATION

NEWDELHI:THE Supreme Court on Monday said it was “surprised” over reports that the Punjab government had spent ₹86 lakh from the funds meant for compensatory afforestation to pay lawyers appearing on its behalf before the National Green tribunal (NGT).

“We are surprised that the payment (for the lawyers) was made out of CAMPA (Afforestation Funds Management and Planning Authority),” the top court said, adding that if the report was correct, it was a “misuse” of the fund.

CAMPA, created under the orders of the apex court on an environment-related matter, was meant to be used for afforestation.

A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur referred to a media report which said that environmentalists in Punjab have questioned the forest department’s move to spend ₹86 lakh to pay senior lawyers who were representing the state in NGT in a deforestation case.

The bench also comprised justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta.

Additional solicitor general (ASG) ANS Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre, said the government would conduct an audit in the matter and that the apex court might take cognisance of the Punjab CAMPA case.

“You ask Punjab about this news item,” the bench told Nadkarni and said it would not take cognisance at this stage as the issue of “judicial activism” would crop up.

The bench asked Nadkarni to verify the news item and get back to the court on September 27. Earlier, the ASG told the bench that the Centre was collecting data from all the states on utilisation of funds created after the SC orders and meant for protection of environment and benefit of people.

The court had in May had expressed displeasure over states “diverting” huge amounts of funds, meant for protection of environment and benefit of people, for other purposes like municipal works.

It had said around ₹75,000 crore, including around ₹50,000 crore of CAMPA, was lying with the governments and asked whether there was any plan to utilise the money.

The apex court had earlier said there were around 10 to 12 funds which were created after its orders in environmental matters and, as per information placed before it, the amount lying in them ranged over ₹75,000 crore.