Two applications challenging the implementation of the Yettinahole water diversion project have been transferred from the National Green Tribunal’s Southern Bench at Chennai to the Principal Bench in New Delhi, on Monday, according to environmental activist K.N. Somashekar.
Mr. Somashekar told The Hindu that Yathiraju had filed the original application before the NGT Southern Bench questioning the implementation of the project. Another application filed by Mr. Somashekar was more comprehensive.
Mr. Somashekar said that advocate Prince Isaac, who represented the two cases, had made elaborate arguments before the Chennai Bench on the question of Limitation.
Though the applications had been reserved for orders on March 1, the Chennai Bench has not passed any orders so far.
Meanwhile, expert-member R. Nagendran of the Bench tendered his resignation, he said.
On Monday, the Southern Bench asked Prince Isaac to argue on the question of Limitation afresh. Expressing his displeasure over the inordinate delay in passing orders on Limitation, Prince Isaac sought the Bench to transfer the two applications to the Principal Bench of the tribunal. The court accordingly passed orders, Mr. Somashekar said.
He said that though the petitioners had advanced elaborate arguments before the Bench regarding the maintainability of the applications, the Bench wanted to hear the matter afresh after its technical member resigned from the position in March. The applications were posted for orders at that juncture.
Normally, before demitting office, a judicial officer completes all official work and in this case, the move appeared murky, he alleged.
