SC directs Centre to verify report on Punjab spending green funds to pay lawyers

Surprised over news reports that money in the compensatory afforestation fund was misused by Punjab Government to clear legal fees of lawyers appearing before the green tribunal, the Apex court directed the Centre to verify the news and inform about the steps to appoint a national regulator for managing these funds.

Amicus curiae ADN Rao informed the Court about news reports claiming that Punjab government spent a sum of Rs 86 lakh from the Compensatory Afforestation Funds Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to settle legal fees of lawyers appearing for the state in environment-related cases before the green tribunal.

This is not the first instance of misuse. In the past, CAMPA funds were reportedly utilized by states for financing its publicity programmes and for civic works. The bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, Justices S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta expressed “surprise” over the news about Punjab and asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ANS Nadkarni appearing for Centre to verify the same. The matter will be next heard on September 27.

The bench said, “We are surprised that the payment (for the lawyers) was made out of CAMPA… if the report is correct, it amounts to misuse of the fund.” The CAMPA fund has accumulated over the years as a compensatory cess paid towards cutting of trees and currently is worth Rs 50000 crore. This amount was meant to be used for afforestation and expanding the green cover.

ASG told the Court that the Centre is in the process of collecting data from all states on utilization of various funds created under the orders of the apex court. The bench asked ASG whether it had decided on appointment of a national regulator to monitor the utilization of these funds. In 2011, the Court had directed in this regard. The ASG informed the court that the appointment of a national regulator is pending consideration with the Government.