Law and Policy Database

This case involves Fundamental Rights Applications filed by residents of Meethotamulla in the City of Colombo, Sri Lanka, who challenged the municipal council’s continuous dumping of massive quantities of municipal waste at Pothuvil Kumbura. The Petitioners applied to the Supreme Court seeking relief from the environmental pollution, public health hazards, and unbearable nuisance caused by the expanding garbage mound, which tragically collapsed in 2017, resulting in forty deaths. In its landmark ruling, the Court defined "proper disposal” of garbage (municipal waste).”

The Forestry Act 2025 supports the planned management and conservation of Fiji's forests, as well as the development of Fiji's forest industry in a manner aligned with national policy and respects traditional landowner rights.

The acceleration of a global energy transition to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement goals is anticipated to increase the demand for critical energy transition minerals. ‘Critical energy transition minerals’ (CETMs) to refer to the mineral commodities that are necessary for the construction, production, distribution and storage of renewable energy and associated infrastructure.

Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 081-2024 provides for the tax treatment of Sukuk pursuant to the tax neutrality provisions of Republic Act No. 11439. Sukuk are interest-free bonds that generate returns to investors without infringing the principles of Shari'ah which prohibit the payment of interest (riba).

The Consolidated Guidelines expand the baseline regulatory framework under Circular Letter No. 2022-04. It also provides the licensing and documentary requirements, as well as other guidelines, for takaful window operators in the Philippines.

Republic Act No. 11995, the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act, establishes an internationally recognized environmental and economic accounting framework. The law's accounting framework includes official statistics on natural capital depletion, degradation and restoration; environmental protection expenditures; land, air and water pollution and quality; and environmental damages.

At issue is the approach that should be adopted by the court in winding up proceedings where there is an agreement between the parties to refer their dispute relating to the petition debt to arbitration. It is contended by the Company that the approach regarding exclusive jurisdiction clauses in bankruptcy proceedings laid down by the Court of Final Appeal in Re Guy Kwok Hung Lam [2023] HKCFA 9 should be applied by analogy to this situation.

The principal question arising in the case is whether or not the approach adopted in Re Guy Kwok Hung Lam [2023] HKCFA 9 (“Guy Lam CFA”) should be applied in this case. In Guy Lam CFA, the court dismissed a bankruptcy petition on the ground that the dispute over the petition debt should be determined in the New York court in accordance with the exclusive jurisdiction agreement between the parties. On the other hand, the company in this case raised a cross-claim against the petitioner which is being arbitrated pursuant to an arbitration agreement between the parties.

The decision affirmed the status of the subject property as forest land, emphasizing the obligations of the Indian state towards its forests. The decision also cited environmental and climate justice, the economic value of forests, the rights of nature and ecocentrism.