SC upholds order on protecting Jhilonja Mouja
The Supreme Court upheld a High Court verdict that in 2011 directed the government to take necessary steps to protect Jhilonja Mouja, an ecologically critical area in Cox’s Bazar, from encroachment.
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order yesterday after hearing a petition filed by the Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) today.
Following a writ petition filed by Bela, the HC on June 8, 2011 directed the government to take necessary steps so that the natural characteristics of Jhilonja Mouja are protected, ensuring that its soil cannot be cut and structures cannot be built there.
Bela filed the petition as a public interest litigation in November 2006 seeking necessary directives on the government to protect Jhilonja Mouja, which was declared as an ecologically critical area on April 19, 1999, from encroachment.
The DC of Cox’s Bazar in 2012 filed an appeal with the Appellate Division challenging the HC directive. But, the Appellate Division refrained from passing any order on the DC’s appeal. The DC in 2015 filed a petition with the SC seeking review of its order.
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