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Courting action

  • 29/06/2000

1982: Balwant Singh Mehta, an Udaipur citizen who turns 101 this year, approaches the Rajasthan High Court to intervene and save the dying lakes of Udaipur

1992: The Jheel Sanrakshan Samiti (JSS) is formed and starts a campaign to save the lakes

1994: The court, responding to Mehta's petition, directs the Udaipur administration to constitute a committee to examine the details leading to the pollution of the lakes. While the government claims to have taken action, the pollution continues

1997: JSS member Praveen Khendewal files a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court

1997: The Supreme Court directs the PIL to the Rajasthan High Court

1998: The court issues a suo moto decision of contempt of court to the district administration (collector) for non-compliance of the high court order of 1994. The high court appoints the district judge of Udaipur to enquire and submit a report of the condition of Udaipur lakes

1998: The district judge, O P Bishnoi, submits his report to the court, stating that the lakes are in a bad condition. He also notes the inaction on the part of government departments

1999: Rajendra Razdan, a jss member, files another PIL for the same cause in the Rajasthan High Court. The other pending PILs and the contempt case are clubbed together

1999: The Jheel Vikas Society is formed with the divisional commissioner of Udaipur as the president and the district collector as vice president

2000: Justice N N Mathur and Justice D N Joshi of the Rajasthan High Court come down heavily on the implementing agencies. They hear the case regularly to asses the progress

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