The Supreme Court warns Rajasthan over River Jojari pollution, highlighting the threat to hundreds of villages. Orders to curb industrial waste and protect drinking water will be pronounced on October 9.
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RAJASTHAN: The Supreme Court of India is once again demonstrating its proactive role in protecting the environment and public health, taking suo motu cognizance of serious ecological issues across the country. On Monday, the Apex Court heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning severe pollution in the River Jojari in Rajasthan, largely caused by industrial waste discharge from nearby factories.
The Bench, comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, heard submissions from Additional Advocate General Shiv Mangal Sharma, representing the State of Rajasthan. Taking the matter on record, the Court, signaling that a formal decision on measures to curb industrial pollution would be delivered soon, declared that,
“We will fix this for orders on October 9.”
The suo motu proceedings, initiated on September 15, highlighted that hundreds of villages along the River Jojari are suffering due to severe contamination, making drinking water unsafe for residents. The Bench observed,
“The contamination is affecting hundreds of villages and rendering the drinking water non-potable for local communities,”
underscoring the urgent need for immediate action.
The Court also noted the possibility of constituting a larger Bench or forming a monitoring committee to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
“The situation requires urgent intervention from both the State Government and Central authorities to prevent further harm to the affected population,”
the Bench emphasized.
The Supreme Court’s concern is not limited to Rajasthan. In a related case on ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh, the Court, highlighting the devastating consequences of unregulated development, had earlier warned,
“The entire State may vanish in thin air from the map of the country.”
Pointing to the larger threat posed by ecological degradation, Justice Mehta stressed,
“This is not going to be limited to Himachal only… the entire Himalayan region”
Previously, in July and August, the Court had repeatedly cautioned that urgent sustainable development and ecological preservation were critical.
“The day is not far when the entire State of HP may vanish in thin air,”
the Bench observed, reflecting the severity of the situation.
The Apex Court’s proactive stance on environmental matters parallels its actions on other public interest issues. The Court had taken suo motu cognizance of custodial deaths and the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across Rajasthan. Following media reports of 11 custodial deaths in 2025, the Bench warned,
“This is a matter of life and death; transparency and accountability cannot be compromised.”
Case Title:
In Re 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River Rajasthan
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