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2025 Supreme(Online)(NGT) 2081
NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL NEW DELHI (PRINCIPAL BENCH)
JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CJ, DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EM, DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EM
NEWS ITEM TITLED 3 SLEEPING AFTER FINISHING SHIFT KILLED IN BLAZE AT NARELA FACTORY 6 INJURED APPEARING IN THE TIMES OF INDIA DATED 09.07.2024 VS
Original Application No. 772/2024
For the Appellants/Petitioners:
For the Respondents: Ms. Jyoti Mendiratta, Ms. Ananya Basudha, Ms. Mahima Tomar, Ms. Suman Arora
The Tribunal affirmed the need for adequate compensation for victims of industrial accidents, aligning with precedents to ensure families receive just relief.
Headnote:(A) Environmental Protection Act, 1986 - Section 3 - Fire incident at Moong Dal processing factory resulting in fatalities and injuries - Respondent authorities provide compensation to victims and legal structures for relief - Tribunal anticipates adhering to precedents in similar cases regarding ex-gratia amounts. (Paras 1, 2, 8)
(B) Compensation - The Tribunal directs sympathetic consideration for additional compensation following guidelines set in similar cases for victims of industrial accidents, ensuring justice for the affected families. (Paras 7, 8)
Facts of the case:
Fire broke out in a factory causing three fatalities and six injuries, with particulars of victims disclosed. The Tribunal intervened, providing for ex-gratia payments and other compensations as per government norms.
Findings of Court:
Compensation for the deceased is set at Rs. 10 lakhs each, with additional amounts for the injured, ensuring adherence to past precedents for adequate relief.
Issues: The matter addresses the compensatory obligations following industrial accidents and the adequacy of relief as compared to prior cases in similar circumstances.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasizes the need for adequate compensation for victims' families reflecting responsibility and care from authorities and corporations involved.
Result: The OA is disposed of with directions for relief.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. fire incident details and outcomes. (Para 1) |
| 2. regulatory compliance and responsibilities. (Para 2 , 3) |
| 3. compensation entitlements outlined. (Para 4 , 5 , 6) |
| 4. precedent established for compensation. (Para 7 , 8) |
| 5. conclusion of tribunal proceedings. (Para 9) |
ORDER
1. This Original Application (OA) was registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item published in Times of India dated 09.07.2024 disclosing the breakout of a fire in a Moong Dal processing factory in Narela Industrial area in North Delhi, resulting in the death of three persons and injury to six persons. It was disclosed in the news item that the blaze was followed by an explosion on the premises, and nearly 90 firefighters were deployed to douse the blaze. It discloses that firemen had recovered a dozen gas cylinders from the building, and if these gas cylinders had exploded, the incident would have caused more injuries and casualties. The blast was such that a part of the roof and balcony blew up. As per the disclosure made in the news item, gas pipes were installed throughout the factory.
2. The Tribunal, by order dated 09.07.2024, had impleaded the Respondents and had issued notices to them. The Respondent No. 1- CPCB has filed the reply dated 25.09.2024, disclosing that the unit was having a valid CTO. The Respondent No. 2-DPCC has filed the reply dated
27.09.2024 disclosing that the unit was located in approved industrial area and was having CTO under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and it falls under green category as per the categorization of the CPCB. The Respondent No. 3-MoEF&CC has filed the reply dated 16.09.2024, disclosing the details of the Rules and Regulations applicable in such cases.
3. The Respondent No. 4 had initially filed the reply dated 27.01.2025, disclosing the details of three deceased victims and six injured in the incident as follows:-
“4. That the matter pertains to fire incident reported at Narela Industrial Area dated 08.06.2024 in Factory no. 11-1249, M/s Shayam Kripa Foods Pvt. Ltd. The details of the injured and dead victims in the fire incident are as following:
A. Three victims have died in the fire incident:
1. Vide MLC No. 3235/24 Shyam S/O Jagdish, Age-24 years, 2. Vide MLC No. 3303/24 Ram Singh S/O Girja Shankar, Age-30 years A/H/O Burn Injury
3. Vide MLC No. 3241/24 Beerpal S/O Rajaram, Age-42 years A/H/O burn injury in unresponsive & unconscious state were. declared brought dead.
B. Six victims were injured in the fire accident:
1. Vide MLC No. 3236/24 Pushpender S/O Rakesh Sharma, Age-26 years A/H/O Burn Injury and referred to Safdurjung Hospital,
2. Vide MLC No. 3237/24 Akash S/O Kanhaiyalal Age-19 years A/H/O Burn Injury and referred to Safdurjung Hospital,
3. Vide MLC No. 3238/24 Mohit Kumar S/O Raju Kushwaha, Age-1 years A/H/O Burn Injury and referred to Safdurjung Hospital.
4. Vide MLC No. 3240/24 Ravi Kumar s/o Jaikishan Narayan Sharma age 19 years A/H/O Injury by brick (simple injury),
5. Vide MLC No. 3301/24 Monu S/o Jagdish Narayan Sharma, Age 25 years A/H/O Burn injury and referred to Safdurjung Hospital.
6. Vide MLC No. 3302/24 Lalu S/o Banshlal Kushwaha, Age 32 years A/H/O Burn Injury and referred to Safdurjung Hospital.”
4. The subsequent report dated 02.08.2025 has been filed by the Respondent No. 4 disclosing the entitlement to receive Rs. 10 lakhs by the family members of the each deceased and Rs. 20000/- to those who have received minor injuries and the process which has been initiated to verify the legal heirs of the deceased. The disclosure so made in the report dated 02.08.2025 by the Respondent No.4 is as under:-
“xxx xxx xxx
2. That as part of the statutory responsibilities entrusted to the District Magistrate, my office has been directed to process and release ex-gratia compensation to the victims and their dependents as per the extant Government norms. The said norms are laid down under Government Order No. F
