Today, On 6th September, The Supreme Court provided relief to officials of the Uttarakhand government by putting a hold on punitive measures against them. The case revolves around the failure to effectively control pollution in the Ganga River. The court’s stay on action offers temporary protection to the officials while further proceedings continue.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court granted relief to officials of the Uttarakhand government by staying an order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that called for criminal cases to be filed against them for their failure to prevent pollution in the Ganga River.
Additionally, the court paused the NGT’s directive for punitive measures against these officials, offering them temporary protection from legal action while the case proceeds.
A bench consisting of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar also issued a notice to the central government, signalling its intent to examine the matter further.
The next hearing scheduled for the second week of December.
This decision comes after the NGT, in its February 9 order, voiced strong dissatisfaction with the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB). The tribunal criticized the board for failing to implement appropriate actions to halt the flow of contaminated water into the Ganga, accusing the officials of remaining passive observers to the environmental degradation.
The NGT’s 151-page order directed the UKPCB to initiate criminal proceedings against the relevant government officials and department heads.
The order stated,
“The UKPCB is also required to recover Environmental Compensation (EC) for previous violations and calculate and impose compensation for any future breaches. A compliance report must be submitted within two months,”
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The tribunal particularly concerned about the lack of enforcement of pollution control measures, urging swift punitive action to hold responsible parties accountable.
By staying this order, the Supreme Court effectively delayed any immediate legal repercussions for these officials, while signalling the need for a deeper review of both environmental protection efforts and administrative accountability.