Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Of Floods And Heavy Rain In North India, Issues Notice To States News24 –

The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of the floods and heavy rains affecting North India, including states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of Delhi and Haryana and sent notices to the Centre and four states.

The states have been asked to reply to the notice within three weeks.

“We have seen unprecedented landslides and floods in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. From the media reports it is noticed that in the flood a huge number of wood was flowing along. Prima facie it appears that there has been illegal felling of trees. Thus issue notice to respondents. Returnable in two weeks. Liberty to serve central agencies. NHAI is a party,” CJI BR Gavai said.

The top court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure remedial measures.

“SG please take note of this. It appears a very serious issue,” the bench headed by CJI Gavai said.

In his reply, SG Mehta expressed urgency to examine the cause of the monsoon mayhem and address it.

“We have interfered with nature so much so that it is giving back. We need to examine the causes,” he said.