In Brief
M.K. Balakrishnan filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking protection of India's 26 wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention, 1971. The Supreme Court directed the Union of India to provide definite instructions on three key matters: whether the Draft Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2016 have been finalized and reasons for any delay; whether the Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority has been reconstituted before its term expired; and what specific steps were taken to preserve the designated wetlands. The Court emphasized the petition must be taken seriously and adjourned the matter for further hearing.
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