Impact of Nepal disaster: Sikkim High Court launches PIL on climate justice

The Sikkim High Court said the PIL was initiated after noticing the impact of the disaster in Nepal, whose Himalayan landscape is similar to that of Sikkim. File | Photo credit: Reuters

GUWAHATI

The Sikkim High Court initiated a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on climate justice after “taking note of the severe hardship and impact of the recent flash floods in Nepal”.

Flash floods triggered by an ice avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26 have left 1,410 dead and 6,145 still missing in northern and central Nepal.

In an order dated September 17, a bench comprising Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan made the Ministry of Railways and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) along with the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and the State Power Department respondents in the “climate justice” PIL.

The court issued notices to these four authorities.

The court said the PIL was initiated after noticing the impact of the disaster in Nepal, whose Himalayan landscape is similar to that of Sikkim. According to his order, the chairman explained in detail the reasons for the initiation of the proceedings.

“The court finds it necessary at the outset to hear the public and potentially local communities likely to be affected by providing them with an accessible platform to voice their concerns,” the order said.

The court appointed three legal experts as amici curiae to help it examine the issues arising from the proceedings and listed the matter for further hearing on October 6.

Sikkim is a disaster-prone state and is said to be more fragile due to hydropower, highways and tunneling projects. Between the “Great Sikkim Floods” of October 1968 and the South Lhonak Glacial Lake flood of October 2023, more than 1,200 people died.

Published – 19 Sep 2026 11:03 IST