MU-CEL signs Letter of Cooperation with M.C. Mehta Environmental Foundation in India
Professors Donna Craig and Michael Jeffery of MU-CEL were honoured a few months ago when he invited both of them to visit his Eco-Ashram in Medawala in the foothills of the Himalayans to give a series of keynote guest lectures at a Capacity Building Training Program for NGOs on the Use of Environmental Law & Policy for Environmental Protection & Sustainable Development that was being held from 21 – 24 May, 2007. The NGOs attending this training program were from all over India and also included some senior government officials.
For those unfamiliar with M.C. Mehta, he is a truly remarkable and courageous individual. He has been described as perhaps the world’s most well-known and effective environmental lawyer. He has received numerous prestigious international awards including the UNEP Global 500 Award (1993), the Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia (1996) and the People of the Year award 1998, LIMCA Book of Record. He has initiated a number of landmark public interest cases in the Supreme Court of India and achieved such extraordinary success that the Court has for years set aside a courtroom every Friday just to hear his cases. Singlehandedly he has obtained more than 40 landmark judgements and Orders from the Supreme Court against polluters including the Order protecting the Taj Mahal from being further damaged by pollution from nearby industries and the protection of the River Ganges river basin.
Many of his cases are taught in law schools around the world and in fact he has defined most of the jurisprudence related to constitutional rights to environmental quality. MU-CEL uses several of his cases in at least three of our undergraduate and postgraduate units. Every discipline has its icon heroes and with respect to environmental law, M.C. Mehta ranks at the very top of the list.
Whilst in India, M.C. Mehta and Professor Jeffery negotiated a Letter of Cooperation between their respective Centres and have pledged to work closely together in the months and years to come. M.C. thereupon arranged to hold a signing ceremony at the outset of the Training Program to be witnessed by those present and subsequently planted trees in honour of his MU-CEL guests in tribute to this important event. MU-CEL intends to include the M.C. Mehta Environmental Foundation as one of the designated institutions where its Masters’ students might serve an internship as part of the Environmental Law & Policy unit convened by Professor Jeffery.
The following photos record some of the memorable events associated with this visit.
M C Mehta and Professor Jeffery signing Letter of Cooperation
Participants in the Capacity Building Training Program
Professor Donna Craig and M C Mehta
M C Mehta and Professor Michael Jeffery
Professor Michael Jeffery and M C Mehta relax after
negotiating
terms of Letter of Cooperation
Professor Donna Craig and M C Mehta planting Neem tree
in her honour
M C Mehta and Professor Michael Jeffery planting tree
at Ashram
M C Mehta, Prof. Donna Craig and Prof. Michael Jeffery
on the banks of the Ganges River
Visit to Rajaji National Park