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The Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant, speaking at the inaugural session of the International Conference on Environmental Diversity and Environmental Jurisprudence, 2022 (ICEDEJ) at Chandigarh University, today emphasized the need for recognizing the interspecies right and privileges.

Pointing out that the interspecies right and privileges have been strongly advocated for ages in India, Justice Kant said, "Since earlier years of Indian civilization, we have cared for nature. Respect and gratitude for trees and animals around us are deep engraved in our day-to-day activities and rituals."

The oldest texts in India such as Vedas contain text like "the earth is my mother and I am her son", Isha Upanishad states that "no creature is superior to any other, human should not be above nature, let no species encroach over the rights of any other species", Justice Kant added. 

However, he highlights how the colonial period adversely affected India and its resources. He said, "India was drained of its resources during colonialism and has been placed on the back foot primarily because of this.”

Further, stressing the need of a combined effort for the protection of the environment, especially from developed nations, Justice Kant said, "Global north refuses to acknowledge its responsibility to protect the environment. They speak in generalized terms when they speak of the environment. Have developed economies started ignoring the socio-economic realities of the global south?”

“Nations that have developed economies have exploited this world’s resources!", he added. 

Justice Kant further highlighted Indian Judiciary's role in helping to protect the environment. He stressed, "The PIL and dilution of procedural impediments have ensured that people can approach the courts to redress any issue with regard to the environment.”

Justice Kant also spoke about the Top Court's ruling in Char Dham Yatra project case. He said that while allowing the roads to be constructed to the border of China for defense purposes, the court struck a balance between the need of the country and the protection of the environment Himalayas.

The two-day conference is being organized to emphasize on understanding and analyzing the potentials and threats faced by bio-diversity and to attain environmental Justice through sound regulatory mechanisms. This year's theme takes on the sustainable use of bio-diversity to assist Nation's growth while maintaining eco-system wellness and environmental Justice.

The conference also aims to sensitizing youth, professionals, social workers, community members, and people from all walks of life about Environmental Diversity and Environmental Jurisprudence as the need of the hour.

The Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu is the chief guest at the event.