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2025 Supreme(Online)(NGT) 1468
NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL NEW DELHI (PRINCIPAL BENCH)
PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CJ, DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EM
Mahendra Singh – Appellant
Versus
State of Haryana & Ors. – Respondent
Original Application No. 667/2018|Original Application No. 679/2018|Original Application No. 599/2019|Original Application No. 1385/2024
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr. Devesh Kumar Agnihotri
For the Respondents: Mr. Rahul Khurana, Mr. Vijay Chaudhary, Mr. Anju, Mr. Tarun Gupta, Mr. Hirday Virdi, Mr. Aman Bhalla, Mr. Saurabh Rajpal, Mr. Kapil Sagar, Mr. Somvir Singh Deswal, Mr. Abhishek Deswal, Ms. Pallavi Singh, Mr. Anuj Bhandari
The tribunal established that all operational stone crushers in Haryana must comply with environmental norms and be subjected to the 'Polluter Pays' principle, emphasizing the right to a healthy environment.
Headnote:(A) Environmental Protection Act, 1986 - Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 - Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 - Violation of environmental norms by stone crushers in Haryana, particularly regarding air quality, siting criteria, and public health.
(B) The tribunal imposed interim environmental compensation of Rs. 20 Lakhs for each stone crusher operating in non-compliance with regulations, emphasizing the 'Polluter Pays' principle.
(C) The measures taken included joint inspections and scrutiny of compliance, leading to closure orders for various non-compliant units.
(D) The court highlighted the severe air pollution issue in Mahendragarh District, stating, "Right of citizens to breathe fresh air cannot be denied". (E) Findings included that the existing environment was beyond its carrying capacity for additional pollutants, and new units would not be permitted to operate. (F)
Result: All the original applications were disposed with clear directives for environmental compliance and monitoring.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. violation of environmental norms by stone crushers. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. specific complaints against individual stone crushers. (Para 3 , 4 , 5) |
| 3. the tribunal's actions and reports on environmental impact. (Para 6 , 7 , 8) |
| 4. need for closure and compliance with environmental norms. (Para 9 , 10 , 11) |
| 5. determining carrying capacity and its implications. (Para 12 , 13 , 14) |
| 6. directions issued for regulatory compliance. (Para 15 , 16 , 17) |
| 7. final orders on compensation and recovery measures. (Para 18 , 19 , 20) |
| 8. outcome of the proceedings and further actions planned. (Para 21 , 22 , 24) |
| 9. dismissal of applications and directives for follow-up. (Para 30 , 31) |
Item Nos. 04 to 07 Court No. 1 BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI Original Application No. 667/2018 (IA NO 372/2023, IA NO 362/2023, IA NO 346/2023, IA NO 357/2023, IA NO 278/2023, IA NO 371/2023, IA NO 120/2023, IA NO 284/2023, IA NO 370/2023, IA NO 376/2023, IA NO 353/2023, IA NO 327/2023, IA NO 381/2023, IA NO 160/2024, IA NO 338/2023, IA NO 360/2023, IA NO 713/2023, IA NO 326/2023, IA NO 392/2023, IA NO 288/2023, IA NO 107/2023, IA NO 379/2023, IA NO 336/2023, IA NO 325/2023, IA NO 380/2023, IA NO 355/2023, IA NO 436/2023, IA NO 330/2023, IA NO 382/2023, IA NO 696/2023, IA NO 364/2023, IA NO 343/2023, IA NO 359/2023, IA NO 124/2023, IA NO 122/2023, IA NO 369/2023, IA NO 694/2023, IA NO 718/2023, IA NO 321/2023, IA NO 674/2023, IA NO 385/2023, IA NO 345/2023, IA NO 361/2023, IA NO 394/2023, IA NO 697/2023, IA NO 797/2023, IA NO 683/2023, IA NO 386/2023, IA NO 365/2023, IA NO 280/2023, IA NO 276/2023, IA NO 272/2023, IA NO 695/2023, IA NO 331/2023, IA NO 366/2023, IA NO 347/2023, IA NO 352/2023, IA NO 95/2023, IA NO 395/2023, IA NO 358/2023, IA NO 339/2023, IA NO 335/2023, IA NO 363/2023, IA NO 348/2023, IA NO 374/2023, IA NO 162/2024, IA NO 340/2023, IA NO 378/2023, IA NO 373/2023, IA NO 337/2023, IA NO 396/2023, IA NO 761/2023, IA NO 384/2023, IA NO 389/2023, IA NO 341/2023, IA NO 143/2025, IA NO 349/2023, IA NO 286/2023, IA NO 391/2023, IA NO 99/2023, IA NO 356/2023, IA NO 739/2023, IA NO 390/2023, IA NO 282/2023, IA NO 274/2023, IA NO 97/2023, IA NO 328/2023, IA NO 324/2023, IA No 350/2023, IA NO 329/2023, IA NO 333/2023, IA NO 342/2023, IA No 387/2023, IA NO 723/2023, IA NO 344/2023, IA NO 334/2023, IA No 383/2023, IA NO 367/2023, IA NO 351/2023, IA NO 388/2023, IA No 375/2023, IA NO 354/2023, IA NO 332/2023, IA NO 438/2023) Mahendra Singh Applicant Versus State of Haryana & Ors. Respondent(s)
WITH Original Application No. 679/2018 Tejpal Applicant Versus State of Haryana & Ors. Respondent(s)
WITH Original Application No. 599/2019 Bishamber Singh Applicant Versus State of Haryana & Ors. Respondent(s)
WITH Original Application No. 1385/2024 News item titled "living under a dust blanket" appearing in The Hindu dated 05.12.2024 Date of hearing: 03.07.2025 Date of Uploading: 21.07.2025 CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON HON’BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER Applicant: Mr. Devesh Kumar Agnihotri, Adv. for Applicant in OA 679/2018 Respondents: Mr. Rahul Khurana, Adv. for R - 1 to 8 with Mr. Vijay Chaudhary, RO, HSPCB, Mahendergarh & Mr. Anju, AEE, HSPCB, Mahendergarh in OA
667/2018 & OA 679/2018 Mr. Rahul Khurana, Adv. for the State of Haryana & HSPCB with Mr.
Vijay Chaudhary, RO, HSPCB, Mahendergarh & Mr. Anju, AEE, HSPCB, Mahendergarh in OA 599/2019 Mr. Tarun Gupta & Mr. Hirday Virdi, Advs.
Mr. Aman Bhalla, Adv. for CPCB in OA 599/2019 (Through VC)
Mr. Saurabh Rajpal, Adv. for R - 33 in OA 667/2018 Mr. Kapil Sagar, Adv. in I.A No. 143/2025 Mr. Somvir Singh Deswal & Mr. Abhishek Deswal, Advs. in I.A No.
120/2023 Ms. Pallavi Singh, Adv.
Mr. Rahul Khurana, Adv. for R - 1 & 4 with Mr. Vijay Chaudhary, RO, HSPCB, Mahendergarh & Mr. Anju, AEE, HSPCB, Mahendergarh in OA
1385/2024 Mr. Anuj Bhandari, Adv. for CPCB in OA 1385/2024
ORDER
1. These original applications relate to violation of environmental norms under the Air
