The right to a clean environment and access to safe drinking water is an integral facet of the right to life. The state bears a constitutional obligation to ensure environmental protection, enforce regulatory compliance, and restore ecosystems damaged by systemic administrative and industrial negligence.

O R D E R

Mehta, J.

1. This Court, vide order dated 21^st November, 20251, while taking note of the severe degradation and destruction of the Jojari River System, deemed it necessary to modify/clarify the order granting

1 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan,

In re, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 2518.

interim stay on the directions issued by the National Green Tribunal, Hereinafter, being referred to as “NGT”. vide final order dated 25^th February, 2022. The Court held that the stay shall not operate so as to restrain the implementation of substantive remedial and regulatory directions issued by the NGT. However, it was clarified that the interim stay would continue to operate only in respect of the remarks made against Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation, For short, “RIICO”. and other concerned authorities/corporations, as well as the direction imposing environmental compensation of Rs. 2 Crores upon them. These aspects were kept open for consideration at an appropriate stage, subject to an evaluation of the future conduct, actions and compliance demonstrated by the said authorities/corporations.

2. In furtherance thereof, and having regard to the scale of environmental harm, the prolonged inaction and the necessity of a coordinated, scientifically informed and accountable institutional framework, this Court deemed it appropriate to constitute a

High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sangeet Lodha, Hon’ble (Retd.) Judge of High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan. The constitution of the said Committee was considered imperative to enable effective oversight of the restoration of the river system and to ensure that remedial measures are implemented in a structured and sustained manner. The Committee was envisaged as a dedicated fact-finding, monitoring and implementation body tasked with identifying systemic deficiencies, supervising measures necessary to arrest further pollution, and formulating long-term strategies for reversal of the environmental damage already caused.

3. The mandate of the aforesaid Committee, as delineated by this Court, was wide-ranging and comprehensive. The Committee was entrusted with ensuring the time-bound implementation of the directions issued by the NGT vide final order dated 25^th February, 2022; preparation of a scientific and actionable river restoration and rejuvenation

4 Hereinafter, being referred to as the “Committee”.

blueprint; identification and mapping of pollution sources; and supervision of compliance by industrial units and municipal bodies. The Committee was further empowered to conduct audits and inspections, assess infrastructure gaps in treatment facilities, recommend augmentation measures, and enforce accountability by identifying erring entities and invoking the “Polluter Pays” principle. Additionally, the Committee was tasked with integrating technical inputs from expert institutions, facilitating real-time monitoring mechanisms, and ensuring community engagement through dissemination of water quality data and incorporation of local feedback.

4. The matter was thereafter directed to be listed on 27th February, 2026 for the purpose of receiving the first status report of the Committee, so as to enable this Court to assess the progress made and to issue further directions, if necessary.

5. In the hearing on 10