LawLoveLegal

Background of the Case The Union government has informed the Supreme Court of India that it cannot investigate corruption and nepotism allegations against Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu , as the matter pertains to state jurisdiction. The Centre clarified that issues concerning the Code of Conduct for Ministers and public procurement rules fall within the state government’s domain , not the Centre’s. The statement came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two non-profit organisations — Save Mon Region Foundation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena — seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in the award of public contracts to firms linked to Khandu’s family members. The Petition and Allegations The petitioners accused Chief Minister Pema Khandu , his father’s second wife Rinchin Drema , and his nephew Tsering Tashi of benefitting from public contracts awarded by the Arunachal government. They alleged that such actions violated: The Code of ...

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a notification introducing a strict benchmark for awarding Green Credits . Under this framework, an applicant will only be eligible for Green Credit after achieving 40% canopy density on a degraded forest land parcel, following a minimum of five years of restoration activities . The move is part of the government’s broader Green Credit Programme , designed to incentivize ecological restoration, encourage corporate participation in afforestation efforts, and link environmental performance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting . Green Credit Rules 2023: Legal Basis and Objective The Green Credit Rules, 2023 , were notified in October 2023 under Sections 3, 6, and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 . The rules empower companies, private entities, and other stakeholders to take up plantation and restoration projects on degraded land , including open forest areas, scrubla...