Justice Kant Urges Cross-Border Environmental Alliance

Justice Surya Kant of India's Supreme Court advocates a joint Indo-Sri Lankan model for regional environmental protection, stressing the need for judicial collaboration and citizen engagement to address transboundary ecological challenges and climate change threats.

Justice Surya Kant, the senior judge of the Supreme Court of India, has issued a clarion call for collaborative efforts between the Indian and Sri Lankan judiciaries to spearhead a new model of regional environmental constitutionalism. Addressing the Indo-Sri Lanka Policy Dialogue on Environmental Sustainability, he emphasized that environmental rights and duties often transcend national borders.

Stressing the critical role of citizen engagement in environmental cooperation, Justice Kant highlighted the influence of universities, legal institutions, and NGOs as transnational communities. He argued that these bodies can generate data, influence litigation, and foster ecological consciousness, making them vital elements in the regional sustainability dialogue.

Justice Kant underscored the potential for judicial dialogue between India and Sri Lanka, suggesting that courts act as arenas for transnational accountability in the absence of strong regional institutions. By drawing on international environmental norms, the judiciaries have showcased a shared moral vision for environmental stewardship, which now demands more structured cooperation to tackle pressing ecological issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)