The Karnataka High Court, on Tuesday, ordered the state government to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the appointment of Congress MLA, M.P. Narendra Swamy, as the chairperson of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). A division bench consisting of Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice M.I. Arun scheduled the case for further hearing on March 17 and directed that it be consolidated with another ongoing petition on the same matter.
Swamy, who represents Malavalli in the Karnataka Assembly, was appointed to the post on February 5, 2025. The PIL was filed by R. Anjaneya Reddy, a resident of Chikkaballapur, who argued that the appointment violates the statutory requirements for the position.
Reddy contended that, while the Water Act, 1974, and the Air Act, 1971, do not specify academic qualifications for the chairperson of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), they do mandate the chairman to have special knowledge, practical experience in environmental protection, and administrative experience in environmental institutions. Reddy argued that Swamy does not meet these qualifications, claiming the appointment was made without adhering to these crucial eligibility criteria.