The Supreme Court of India recently directed the Union ministry of environment and forests to enforce the laws prohibiting the use and dumping of banned hazardous substances. The court remarked that despite passing several orders to this effect in the past year, no steps have been taken against erring units under the Environment Protection Act. Issuing a stern warning, the court said that if the officers (of the level of secretaries) do not "mend their ways" by April 1, it will be forced to record a judicial verdict of failure on the part of the officials in the performance of their duties.