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2025 Supreme(Online)(NGT) 1156
NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL NEW DELHI (PRINCIPAL BENCH)
Prakash Shrivastava, CJ, A. Senthil Vel, EM, Afroz Ahmad, EM
NEWS ITEM TITLED "1 KILLED FIVE INJURED IN BLAST AT FIREWORKS UNIT IN T. N. S VIRUDHNAGAR" APPEARING IN THE HINDU DATED 07.07.2025 VS
Original Application No. 346/2025
For the Appellants/Petitioners:
For the Respondents:
The Tribunal's power to take suo-motu action underscores its role in enforcing environmental compliance and public safety.
Headnote:This application is based on a news report about a fatal explosion at a fireworks unit, triggering legal review under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Tribunal, recognizing its power to address issues of public safety, ordered notices to several regulatory authorities for compliance review. The case raises significant concerns about environmental violations and safety oversight in hazardous industries.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. suo-motu registration based on public safety concern. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. compensation awarded in similar incidents impacts case consideration. (Para 3 , 4) |
| 3. environmental compliance issues raised for regulatory response. (Para 5 , 6) |
| 4. notice issue and transfer of case to southern zonal bench. (Para 7 , 8 , 9) |
| 5. scheduling of the next hearing. (Para 10) |
ORDER
1. This original application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item titled “1 killed five injured in blast at fireworks unit in T. N.’s Virudhnagar” appearing in The Hindu dated 07.07.2025.
2. The matter relates to the death of one person and injuries to five others in a blast at Hindustan Fireworks at Tamil Nadu’s Keeza Thayilpatti. As per the article, this is the second accident in Virudhunagar in less than a week. The article mentioned that the suspected cause of the accident is friction while aerial fireworks were being made.
3. The Tribunal vide order dated 11.06.2021 passed in O.A. No. 559/2024, News item titled “8 killed In Explosion at Fireworks Factory Near Sivakasi In Tamil Nadu” appearing in NDTV.com dated 09.05.2024 and others considering the issue of fire incident in a fireworks unit has awarded the compensation of Rs.20 lakhs to the heirs of the deceased and Rs. 15 lakhs to the injured.
4. The matter above seems to attract the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act , 1986, Public Liability Insurance Act , 1991.
5. The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.
6. Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.
7. Hence, we implead the following as respondents:
i. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Through its Member Secretary Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi-110032 ii. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Through its Member Secretary Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board 76, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032 iii. District Collector Virudhunagar The District Collector, First Floor, Collectorate, Sattur Road, Virudhunagar – 626002
8. Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate then the said respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal.
9. Since the matter relates to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai, therefore, OA is transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench. Therefore, the original record of this OA be transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai for further action.
10. List before Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai on 04.09.2025.
