South Asia

Ashgar Leghari v. Federation of Pakistan (W.P. No. 25501/2015)
Lahore High Court Green Bench

A farmer filed a public interest litigation alleging the government of Pakistan’s inaction and delay in implementing the National Climate Change Policy and addressing vulnerabilities associated with climate change violates the fundamental constitutional rights to life and dignity. 

In its first order, issued 4 September 2015, the Green Bench declared:

The Madras High Court determined that the operator of a coal-fired power plant isn't beneficially utilizing fly ash, as required by the fly ash utilization notification of 03/11/2009, among other regulatory violations, which are causing environmental degradation and health hazards that may result in irreparable loss.  Accordingly, the court ordered an ad-interim injunction restraining the operator from dumping material that would affect the marsh land in Vallur Village, Tamil Nadu. 

Salim v. State of Uttarakhand, Writ Petition (PIL) No.126 of 2014 (December 5, 2016 and March 20, 2017)
High Court of Uttarakhand

NOTE:  In July 2017, the Supreme Court of India issued a stay of the High Court’s order.  The appeal has not yet been decided.

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Mohammed Salim filed public interest litigation in the High Court of Uttarakhand concerning illegal construction and encroachments along the Ganges River, as well as the failure to constitute the Ganga Management Board, as required by the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.

Gauri Maulekhi v. Union of India, Original Application No. 486 of 2014 (May 4, 2016)
National Green Tribunal

A community member filed a case with the National Green Tribunal to force regulators to control toxic effluent and fly ash being discharged by a paper manufacturer, Century Pulp and Paper (“Century”) .