New Delhi: A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court today seeking a directive to the Centre to ensure that that the two-children norm is strictly adhered to by couples and non-observance results in denial of facilities to them.
The plea, which is likely to be listed for hearing during the week, alleged that the increase in population was imposing an increasing burden on the limited natural resources of the country and causing continuous degradation.
"The citizen should have a limit in giving birth only to the maximum of two children failing which the concerned person shall attract disqualification with respect to government facilities and other benefits being provided by the government to its citizens," said the petition, filed by activist Anupam Bajpai through advocate Shiv Kumar Tripathi.
"The issue of rising population needs a serious thought by the government functionaries or else the coming generation will have to lead a very miserable life only because of the apathy and negligent mindset of the present generation," it said.
The petition said that the population pressure on the available land contributes to the land degradation, besides causing a tremendous and hazardous effect on the environment concerning ground and surface water, air pollution and global warming.
"The rapid population growth and economic development in the country are degrading the environment through the uncontrolled growth of urbanisation and industrialisation, expansion and intensification of agriculture and destruction of the natural habitat.
"If the population of India continues to multiply with the existing rate, the impact on the environment could be devastating," it said, adding that the growth of population was contributing to the generation of poverty and depletion of the environment.
It said the demand for food, energy and housing are the factors caused due to the growing trends of population and lead to severe degradation of India's forests and the environment.
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