Public Utilities and Environment Committee Recommends Extending Environmental Protection Appeals Period

TDT | Manama

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The Public Utilities and Environment Committee of the House of Representatives has recommended a proposed law by MP Dr Ali Al Noaimi aimed at extending the period for appealing administrative decisions under the environmental protection and wildlife conservation law from 30 days to 60 days.

According to the explanatory memorandum submitted by Dr Al Noaimi, the current legal timeframe for appealing administrative decisions may not be sufficient for stakeholders to adequately challenge such decisions. The memorandum emphasises that a longer appeal period would allow concerned parties to thoroughly review the decisions before taking legal action within an appropriate time frame.

The explanatory memorandum also notes that many Bahraini laws allow for a 60-day appeal period against administrative decisions. For instance, Article 6 of Law No. 27 of 2022 on the prohibition of the development, production, storage, and destruction of biological and toxin weapons states that "anyone whose appeal is expressly or implicitly rejected may contest before the competent court within 60 days from the date of notification of the rejection of their appeal or its implicit rejection."

Both the Ministry of Oil and Environment and the Supreme Council for the Environment opted not to preempt the government's opinion on this matter, while the Supreme Judicial Council indicated that providing an opinion on the proposed law is outside its jurisdiction at this stage.

The proposed law is scheduled for discussion and voting in the House of Representatives next Tuesday.