Treating a media report as public interest litigation, the Orissa HC has decided to revive the issue of threat to lives of turtles. About 25 years ago, the Orissa HC had earlier dealt with the matter in case of WWF India (World Wide Fund for Nature-India) versus State of Orissa, wherein a detailed order was passed on May14, 1998, the judgment says. It further points out that this court had again issued a large number of directions in the case of Biswajit Mohanty versus State of Orissa. Quoting the report, the HC in its judgment observed 800 Olive Ridley turtles have died since January this year at the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, the world’s largest sea turtle rookery. Taking turtle mortality seriously, the court appointed Mohit Agarwal, an advocate, as Amicus Curiae to assist the court in the matter.

Source: The Hindu February 25, 2021 12:11 UTC