The Supreme Court of India has constituted a High-Powered Committee headed by a retired High Court judge to tackle rampant industrial pollution in Rajasthan’s Jojari River, aiming to protect hundreds of villages and ensure safe drinking water for affected communities.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has taken decisive action to address the persistent pollution of the Jojari River in Rajasthan by constituting a High-Powered Committee headed by a retired High Court judge. This move comes amid growing concerns over industrial and municipal contamination affecting the river ecosystem and surrounding communities.
The directive was issued by a Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta during a hearing on the matter.
During the hearing on November 17, the Bench strongly criticized state authorities for their administrative inaction despite clear evidence of environmental harm. Justice Mehta remarked on the situation, highlighting the systemic negligence in tackling river pollution.
The court noted that pollution issues in Rajasthan’s rivers, including the Jojari, Bandi, and Luni, have been a long-standing legal challenge. Previous interventions by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had already highlighted rampant industrial pollution, particularly from textile and steel units in districts like Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra.
NGT Directions and Industrial Compliance
Between 2020–2021, the NGT constituted monitoring committees, chaired by former Chief Justice Prakash Chandra Tatia, which revealed alarming levels of contamination. The NGT’s February 25, 2022 order mandated:
- Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) compliance by industries
- Environmental compensation for violations
- Closure of defaulting industrial units
However, several orders were challenged through statutory appeals under Section 22 of the NGT Act, 2010, filed by RIICO and local municipal councils, leading to interim stays in 2022.
Acknowledging overlapping appeals and ongoing suo motu proceedings, the Supreme Court directed that all related cases be consolidated for a single hearing. This includes:
- RIICO v. Digvijay Singh & Ors.
- Municipal Council, Pali v. Kisan Paryavaran Sangharsh Samiti
- Nagar Nigam, Jodhpur v. Gram Panchayat Araba
- Municipal Council, Balotra v. Digvijay Singh & Ors.
The Court’s registry will now place the papers before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, paving the way for a coordinated judicial approach to curb river pollution.
The Supreme Court has emphasized that the pollution in the Jojari River is affecting hundreds of villages, rendering drinking water unsafe for local populations. The Bench stressed that urgent intervention from the Rajasthan State Government and relevant Central authorities is essential to prevent further ecological and public health damage.
Case Title:
IN RE: 2 MILLION LIVES AT RISK, CONTAMINATION IN JOJARI RIVER, RAJASTHAN
SUO MOTO WRIT PETITION(CIVIL) No(s). 8/2025
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