SC Issues Legal Notice to Nine Coastal States Over Mass Deaths of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

The Supreme Court vide its Order dated 12.02.2021 in Arnav Sinha vs State of West Bengal and Others [Civil Appeal No. 288 of 2021] has issued notice to nine Coastal States and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands in an Appeal against the Order of National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench concerning the mass deaths of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles off the coasts of Indian States due to the non-biodegradable synthetic nets of fisher-folk.

The Appellant had initially approached the National Green Tribunal seeking directions to the Coastal States to take steps to ensure sustainable fishing practices. The Application sought the mandatory use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and a prohibition on fishing 20 km from the coastline of vulnerable Coastal States and Union Territories.

The National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench had dismissed his Application by holding that the same did not have any “questions of adjudication” for the National Green Tribunal.

Upon Appeal, the Supreme Court of India, consisting of a Bench comprising of Hon’ble Mr Justice L. Nageswara Rao and Hon’ble Mr Justice S. Ravindra Bhat issued notice to the Coastal States and Union Territories impleaded in the present case.

India’s coastline is home to 5 different species of Sea Turtles, all of which are listed as endangered under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. However, despite their protected status, nearly 1.7 lakh Olive Ridley Sea Turtles have been killed along the Indian Coasts in the past decade itself. 

The Appellant was represented by Advocates Jai Anant Dehadrai and Sidharth Arora.

Read order here

Arnav Sinha vs State of West Bengal & Ors.