Kerala HC: Publish ESA Draft in Malayalam

The Kerala High Court has ordered the state government to publish the Malayalam version of the draft notification concerning ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats. This crucial directive, issued by a bench including Justice C Jayachandran, requires the state to finalize and release the vernacular translation within a 10-day timeframe. The court's decision followed a petition from three residents of Kozhikode who raised concerns about the lack of a Malayalam translation. They argued that this absence hindered their ability to submit objections within the stipulated period, as a significant portion of the two-month window had already passed.

In response to the petition, the central government suggested involving the Kerala Official Language (Legislative) Commission for the translation. The High Court accepted this proposal, impleading the commission as a party and instructing it to expedite the translation process. Subsequently, the state government must display the Malayalam version of the draft notification on its official website promptly after receiving it from the commission. This measure aims to ensure transparency and facilitate public participation in environmental planning.