JUDGMENT :

A.S. Chandurkar, J.

1. The challenge raised in this writ petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is to the order dated 18th January 2022 passed by the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi taking suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report dated 7th January 2022 published in daily “The Indian Express” reporting the death of six persons and rendering about twenty persons to be sick in view of a gas leak at the industrial area in Surat. The petitioner has also challenged the order dated 23rd September 2022 passed by the Principal Bench, National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, wherein the report of the Joint Committee that was constituted pursuant to the earlier order dated 18th January 2022 came to be considered and various directions came to be issued. During pendency of the writ petition, another order dated 24th March 2023 passed by the Principal Bench, National Green Tribunal, New Delhi issuing further directions in the matter of compensating victims of the said gas leak is also under challenge by amending the writ petition. The petitioner further seeks a declaration that the Principal Bench, National Green Tribunal, New Delhi lacks