Sikkim High Court initiates climate justice inquiry following Nepal floods

The High Court of Sikkim has initiated a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) titled ‘Re Climatic Justice’ to investigate the severe impacts of recent flash floods in neighboring Nepal. The court is examining the wider hardships caused by the disaster, which reportedly resulted in at least 1,410 deaths and left 6,145 people missing.

The floods, which began on August 26, are believed to have been triggered by a glacier collapse and an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border. Several districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan, suffered extensive damage.

A division bench including Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan issued notices to the Ministry of Railways, the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, and the state Power Department. The court also expressed the necessity of hearing from local communities and members of the public potentially affected by these developments. Three lawyers have been appointed as amici curiae to assist the bench, with the next hearing scheduled for October 6.