The Orissa High Court has observed that existing efforts to control population growth in India are far from satisfactory and urged that urgent, comprehensive measures must be taken on a war-footing to address the impending population explosion. The remarks came while the Court dismissed an appeal by a Gram Panchayat member who was disqualified for having more than two children under the Odisha Grama Panchayats Act, 1964, affirming that the disqualification was legally valid.
The Bench noted that growth in population leads to environmental degradation, resource scarcity and more intense societal challenges, and expressed deep concern that current policies have not achieved adequate results. It pointed out that the Constitution (Forty-Second Amendment) Act, 1976 added “Population Control & Family Planning” to the Concurrent List to enable both the Centre and States to frame effective laws and policies.
Citing global consensus on the harmful impact of overpopulation, the Court suggested that constitutional institutions and civil society should take proactive steps to combat rapid population growth. To facilitate broader reform, the Court directed that a copy of its judgment be forwarded to the Chairperson of the Law Commission of India for consideration of appropriate legislative or policy recommendations.
