HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Oct 29: “Today climate change and global warming due to environmental degradation have emerged as real challenges to the existence of lives and livelihoods of billions of people across the world. The present circumstances have increased our responsibility manifold towards protecting the environment,” said chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“This calls for a sense of urgency towards sustainability and environmental conservation in our day to day life,” Sarma said while speaking at the inaugural session of National Judicial Seminar in the presence of Union minister of Law & Justice Kiren Rijiju at Kaziranga on Saturday.
The National Seminar organised by Gauhati High Court in collaboration with the Government of Assam covered subjects on ‘Environment and Sustainable Development- Role of Judiciary’ and ‘Digitisation of Indian Judiciary- its impact on Dispensation of Justice’.
Highlighting various provisions incorporated in the Indian constitution regarding environmental protection, the chief minister viewed that sensible planning, balanced development and deployment of green technology would give us realistic solutions to save the environment.
He also elaborated on the sustainable development goals and said that sustainability is a combination of a high level of human well-being and a high level of ecosystem well-being that supports it.
Further speaking about digitisation of Indian judiciary, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given special importance to digitisation of the entire system.
“As such digitisation of judiciary should not be seen in isolation,” he said adding that the use of digital platforms across all pillars will ultimately help early disposal of cases in the judiciary and would benefit the entire system.
Along with environment, job protection is a concern: Rijiju
Union Law and Justice minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that protection of jobs in India is a concern while safeguarding the environment during economic progress.
The per capita GDP in India is still very less compared to other mid-level and developed nations, Rijiju said after inaugurating a seminar here.
“When we talk about growth of the economy, we only talk about protection of the environment. But we are also concerned about protection of jobs,” he said.
Addressing the seminar on ‘Environment and Sustainable Development – Role of Judiciary’ and ‘Digitisation of Indian Judiciary – its Impact in Dispensation of Justice’, Rijiju said all stakeholders must come together to deliberate on the issues.
“Today, the per capita GDP of India is 2,100 dollars and it is very less, but India as a whole, when we calculate, it’s close to a 3.23 trillion dollar economy. It is the fifth largest economy (in the world),” he said.
The international standard of development for “middle-level countries” is a per capita income of USD 12,000, the Union minister said in presence of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior Supreme Court and High Court judges.
“So, we have to reach the position of a middle-level country before attaining developed status. While climbing from 2,100 dollars to 12,000 dollars, you can imagine the impact on the environment and the growth which we would be embarking upon,” he added.
Claiming that India is currently one of the fastest-growing economies in the world despite the global impact of the pandemic, Rijiju said the country has never seen such a growth rate in its history.
“India is not a mineral-rich nation, especially in the oil and gas sectors, as we import these,” he said, adding that the role of the judiciary is going to be extremely crucial in the growth and development of India.
The seminar was jointly organised by the Gauhati High Court and the Assam government. (PTI)
