The Supreme Court on Thursday slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on the Ministry of Environment and Forests for not giving a satisfactory reply in a wetlands protection case, reported ANI. The apex court also pulled up the Centre for not complying with international conventions on preserving wetlands in India, India Today reported.

A bench headed by Justice Lokur told the Centre, “India is supporting the Paris Accord. Is this how you support it? How do you show your face to the international community? This is the respect you have for international conventions?” When the counsel for the government sought six months’ time to file a response, Justice Lokur retorted, “We will call the [Ministry of Environment] secretary and pack him off to jail.”

The Supreme Court had on February 9 identified two lakh wetlands in the country and asked the Centre to frame a policy by June 30 to protect them.