O P Sharma
M C Mehta, an eminent lawyer hailing from Jammu region, has fought many environment cases in the Supreme Court of India and got some landmark judgments with far reaching impacts. He is recipient of prestigious Magasaysay Award and also numerous other coveted awards and prizes in his bag. Mr. Mehta has to his credit some notable relentless legal battles to protect India’s environment through his pioneer legal activism for environmental issues with tangible results.
During an interview with me during my recent short visit to New Delhi, Mr. Mehta stated: “vigorously championing the cause for protecting and promoting environment is my life-long mission and will go on unhindered”. Asked about his pioneer works, he modestly expressed the hope that much more is yet to be done and achieved. Mr. and Mrs. Mehta, two-member-team solidly stand and work together for “Clean and Green India”, as also the world.
Born at Dhangri
Born on October 12, 1946, M C Mehta hails from a small village Dhangri of Rajouri district in the J&K State. From the very beginning, the love for the Nature got instilled in his head and heart and later on led him to firm commitment towards protecting the environment. After elementary education, he moved to Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir State, and completed his MA (Political Science) and Law course degrees from Jammu University. He started legal practice in J&K High Court. Side by side, he took active part in social and political causes. He raised his voice against corruption and motivated the youth to fight against discrimination taking place with the Jammu region.
During 1983, he shifted to Delhi and started career as a Supreme Court lawyer and paid focused attention to environmental litigation. Slowly, he came to be known as “One Man Enviro-legal Brigade” and is probably the only Supreme Court lawyer to have taken up legal cudgels with the polluting Indian industries and who came out victorious. A dedicated, fearless and extremely honest man, he pursues his goals with single-minded devotion.
Proud Attainments
MC Mehta has been conferred with several prestigious awards. Some of these are: the Governor’s Gold Medal, the covetous Goldman Environmental Prize, the UN’s Global 500 Award for 1993 and above all the Magsaysay Award for 1997.”
He has the distinction of being a Keynote Speaker at various International Conferences on Environmental Law and Human Rights held at USA and also paid visits to Russia, UK, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Israel, Japan, Italy, Bhutan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Australia and Canada.
Well-known Crusader
In addition to handling major legal environmental cases, Mr Mehta is working actively to create environmental awareness through seminars, conferences, ‘Green Marches’, tree plantation and field actions at the grass roots level.
It was he who along with his associate, Advocate Ashok Sharma, former MLA and president , J&K branch of Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action (ICELA) as well president, Intellectual Forum, organized the first ‘Green March’ from Jammu to Srinagar during May, 1989 and sensitized the people about the dangers of deforestation and the necessity of protecting the ecology and environment. More such marches were organized for preserving the cultural heritage and environment.
M.C. Mehta’s public interest environmental litigation cases have formed the foundation for the development of environmental jurisprudence in India, and indeed, South Asia.
Few of the important cases taken up by Mr. Mehta include: The famous Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world and the pride of India, facing threats of pollution during 1984 in which the Supreme Court delivered historic Judgment in December, 1996; the Ganges pollution case resulted in three historical judgments and some orders against polluting industries in Ganga basin; vehicular pollution issues, the Apex Court passed landmark judgment in 1992 while in Oleum Gas Leak Case the court imposed restrictions on hazardous industry in populated areas; the case of Child labour and direction for their rehabilitation. Many other public issues were championed by this lawyer.
It is noteworthy that Mr. Mehta is still taking up environmental issue in the law courts and rendering valuable service to the society.
(Starline Syndicate Service)
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