JUDGMENT :

Sanjeeb K Panigrahi, J.

1. In this Writ Petition, the petitioner seeks a direction from this Court to quash the order dated 02.05.2025 passed by the National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone, Kolkata in O.A. No. 167/2023/EZ, and to restrain the respondents from taking any coercive steps for recovery of environmental compensation pursuant thereto.

I. FACTUAL MATRIX OF THE CASE

2. The brief facts of the case are as follows:

(i) The petitioner is a company incorporated under the Companies Act and is represented through its deponent, claiming residence within the territorial jurisdiction of the Orissa High Court and asserting that the cause of action arose within such jurisdiction.

(ii) East Coast Railway, as Opposite Party No. 8, awarded the petitioner a railway track laying work along with bridge work through Letter of Acceptance dated 01.06.2022 followed by a formal contract agreement dated 25.10.2022.

(iii) An Original Application being O.A. No. 167/2023/EZ was filed before the National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata by certain persons describing themselves as social workers and local villagers, alleging illegal extraction of minor minerals such as earth and morrum by