Latest news with #FCAA
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Conflict of interest' in CEC may compromise FCAA cases: Retired bureaucrats write to CJI
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A group of 60 former civil servants has written to the Chief Justice of India, claiming that a "conflict of interest" in the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) could compromise the outcome of cases challenging the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, their open letter dated June 30, the signatories, including former secretaries, ambassadors, police chiefs and forest officers, said the four-member CEC currently includes three former Indian Forest Service officers and a retired scientist who also worked with the environment ministry for many years. There are no independent experts on the letter said two CEC members recently retired as Director General of Forests and Special Secretary in the environment ministry."A CEC comprising officers who had held the highest positions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and were closely involved in policy-making, can hardly be expected to give independent advice to the Supreme Court , advice that is different from what they gave while they were in the government," the letter retired civil servants, part of the Constitutional Conduct Group, said the CEC, formed in 2002, had a balanced composition until earlier CEC included not only government experts but also two independent members -- a wildlife specialist and a Supreme Court advocate -- who had neither held senior government positions nor been involved in forest policy decisions, "thus ensuring impartiality and preventing conflict of interest", they 2023, a group of individuals challenged the Forest Conservation Amendment Act (FCAA) in the Supreme Court, saying that it would hasten forest decline. In this matter, the court has issued four orders, including one upholding the definition of forests as per the Godavarman order of 1996. The case is pending final retired officials pointed out that a current CEC member, while serving in the environment ministry, had "prepared and defended" the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The Act, its rules and guidelines were all notified during that said several memos allowing use of degraded, notified and revenue forests for compensatory afforestation, which goes against the 1996 Godavarman judgment, were also issued during the tenure of some present CEC signatories feared that the outcome of the cases against the FCAA 2023, "may possibly be compromised considering the conflict of interest of the CEC", as the Supreme Court might rely on the CEC's advice before making its final advice or report given by the current CEC, given its composition, in cases that challenge the FCAA 2023, "will in all probability be biased in favour of the Act as passed and will thus represent a clear conflict of interest", the letter retired officials said this concern is already reflected in the recent Supreme Court order on Maharashtra's 'zudpi' forests (scrub forests).The court's order dated May 22, 2025, relied heavily on the CEC's advice, which recommended the untrammelled use of these forests for "compensatory afforestation", considering them ecologically inferior as they cannot support dense forest former bureaucrats urged the court to ensure that the CEC includes not just retired government officials but also independent experts from outside, saying there are many such experts in the requested the chief justice not to allow the current CEC to advise the court in the FCAA 2023 cases or other important matters related to forests, wildlife and ecological signatories to the letter included Prakriti Srivastava, former principal chief conservator of forests, Kerala, Navrekha Sharma, former ambassador to Indonesia, N C Saxena, former secretary of the erstwhile Planning Commission, and K Sujatha Rao, former health secretary.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ex-bureaucrats warn of conflict of interest in environment panel advising Supreme Court
A group of 60 civil servants has written to the Chief Justice of India expressing concerns about a potential conflict of interest in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which advises the Supreme Court on environmental cases. The letter, signed by 60 retired seasoned bureaucrats, pointed out that the CEC does not include an independent expert and is instead composed entirely of government officials, which could influence the outcomes of cases concerning amendments to the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) of 1980. The CEC, which should have five members, is currently made up entirely of former government servants, including retired scientists, rather than including at least one independent expert as required. The letter cast doubt on the integrity of the CEC and stated that 'a CEC which is comprised of officers who had held the highest positions in the MoEFCC, and were closely involved in policy making, can hardly be expected to give independent advice to the Supreme Court, advice that is different from what they gave while they were in the government.' The letter cited a writ petition of 2023 which was filed in the Supreme Court by a group of individuals challenging the Forest Conservation Amendment Act (FCAA), 2023. According to the petition, the Act would promote the decline of forests in India.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Conflict of interest in CEC may affect FCAA cases: Retired officers to CJI
A group of 60 former civil servants has written to the Chief Justice of India, claiming that a "conflict of interest" in the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) could compromise the outcome of cases challenging the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023. In their open letter dated June 30, the signatories, including former secretaries, ambassadors, police chiefs and forest officers, said the four-member CEC currently includes three former Indian Forest Service officers and a retired scientist who also worked with the environment ministry for many years. There are no independent experts on the panel. The letter said two CEC members recently retired as Director General of Forests and Special Secretary in the environment ministry. "A CEC comprising officers who had held the highest positions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and were closely involved in policy-making, can hardly be expected to give independent advice to the Supreme Court, advice that is different from what they gave while they were in the government," the letter read. The retired civil servants, part of the Constitutional Conduct Group, said the CEC, formed in 2002, had a balanced composition until 2023. The earlier CEC included not only government experts but also two independent members -- a wildlife specialist and a Supreme Court advocate -- who had neither held senior government positions nor been involved in forest policy decisions, "thus ensuring impartiality and preventing conflict of interest", they said. In 2023, a group of individuals challenged the Forest Conservation Amendment Act (FCAA) in the Supreme Court, saying that it would hasten forest decline. In this matter, the court has issued four orders, including one upholding the definition of forests as per the Godavarman order of 1996. The case is pending final hearing. The retired officials pointed out that a current CEC member, while serving in the environment ministry, had "prepared and defended" the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The Act, its rules and guidelines were all notified during that time. They said several memos allowing use of degraded, notified and revenue forests for compensatory afforestation, which goes against the 1996 Godavarman judgment, were also issued during the tenure of some present CEC members. The signatories feared that the outcome of the cases against the FCAA 2023, "may possibly be compromised considering the conflict of interest of the CEC", as the Supreme Court might rely on the CEC's advice before making its final decision. Any advice or report given by the current CEC, given its composition, in cases that challenges the FCAA 2023, "will in all probability be biased in favour of the Act as passed and will thus represent a clear conflict of interest", the letter said. The retired officials said this concern is already reflected in the recent Supreme Court order on Maharashtra's 'zudpi' forests (scrub forests). The court's order dated May 22, 2025 relied heavily on the CEC's advice, which recommended the untrammelled use of these forests for 'compensatory afforestation', considering them ecologically inferior as they cannot support dense forest cover. The former bureaucrats urged the court to ensure that the CEC includes not just retired government officials but also independent experts from outside, saying there are many such experts in the country. They requested the chief justice not to allow the current CEC to advise the court in the FCAA 2023 cases or other important matters related to forests, wildlife and ecological security.
Business Recorder
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
FCAA demands changes in FCA
PESHAWAR: President Frontier Customs Agents Association (FCAA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi has demanded changes in newly introduced 'Faceless Customs Assessment', making it convenient and practical for business community dealing in import and export through upcountry dry ports such as Peshawar. In a press statement issued here on Sunday, Sarhadi who also holds the offices of Senior Vice President Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) and Executive Member Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), said that centralisation of Goods Declarations (GDs) process at Karachi port is causing difficulties for business community of other cities due to delay in processing and clearance. The government must immediately engage with the business community to craft flexible and practical policies, Zia emphasized. He welcomed a recent decision by Peshawar High Court (PHC) directing FBR to make necessary amendments in the system and bring it in conformity with the scheme governing the assessment and clearance of goods. The court also issued a directive for restricting application of Faceless Custom Assessment to clearance of goods reached at Azakhel Dry port. Sarhadi explained that under the new system introduced by the Custom Department, all Goods Declarations (GDs) are routed to the Central Assessment Unit (CAU) in Karachi, even if they are filed at local dry ports. This centralization has resulted in delays in clearance, as local agents cannot directly communicate with the assessing officers in Karachi in case queries or objections are raised, he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Sask. residents warned of online impersonation scam involving PM Mark Carney
The logo for Saskatchewan's Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA). (Source: Saskatchewan's financial and consumer affairs authority wants investors in the province to be aware of an online scam using fake news articles and an image of Prime Minister Mark Carney falsely endorsing a business that may be illegitimate. The scam claims the PM is endorsing the trading platform Canfirst, a news release from the province says. According to the province, Canfirst claims to offer Saskatchewan residents trading opportunities that include stocks, cryptocurrencies and forex. However, the province says Canfirst is not registered with the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) to sell securities or derivatives in the province. The province says the warning applies to the online entity using the website 'canfirst net' and that the URL has been manually altered to not be interactive. 'The FCAA cautions investors and consumers not to send money to companies that are not registered in Saskatchewan, as they may not be legitimate businesses,' the release said. People who have invested with Canfirst, or anyone claiming to be acting on their behalf are asked to contact the FCAA's securities division. According to the province, tips to protect yourself include:
