Karnataka High Court lashed over a Law Student by stating ‘you can’t act so casually’ on the wake of not producing authentic scientific data:

A petitioner law student had filed a PIL stating that Forest Department of Government of Karnataka was planning to plant Acacia trees in the State and such are harmful to the environment which may even lead to irreparable damages.

The Division Bench of Justice Abhinay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice N Nagaprasanna declined to entertain such PIL as their was no supporting scientific data or authentic material to show the harm caused by Acacia Species Trees to the environment. When asked for supporting documents the petitioner stated that he had referred to some article, website printouts and news reports. While expressing it’s dissatisfaction the Court expressed, “Can you say that if something is published on the website, it is an expert opinion?” The petitioner was further asked whether he approached the concerned authorities in reply to which he pleaded that he had made a representation to the concerned department regarding the matter.

The Court noted that, and opined,” _You are not a botanist, you are not a Horticulturist and you are simply writing one letter by email and stating that plantation of such and such trees is harmful to the soil. Why should the authorities act on such an email, you tell us. 

The bench further stated that you a not a layman, you are a law student you can’t act so casual. We want to educate you because you are a law student._ What we feel is after you join the profession, you must act responsibly, therefore we are educating you right now”

The court dismissed the PIL stating so, but granted permission to the petitioner student to file a fresh representation to the concerned authorities with proper material documents and Scientific reports. 

Hearing this the Court finally urged all the advocated that they were running short of staff due to the pandemic and 1/4th of the original staff is sitting. By just sending in an email, filing a petition, taking it on board and stating you don’t have material and would produce it subsequently is a very casual behaviour and can’t to acted upon. 

By Rajat Verma