Environment_ESG | November 2024 - Supreme Court Judgements/orders

The Supreme Court of India stays decision of the National Green Tribunal imposing environmental compensation on Executive Officer, Nagar Panchayat Dasna for non-operation of sewage treatment plant

The Supreme Court of India ("Supreme Court") in Executive Officer vs. Afsar Ali and Anr.¹ stayed the operation of directions issued by the National Green Tribunal ("NGT") for initiating penal action and imposing environmental compensation of INR 23,72,000 (Indian Rupees twenty-three lakh seventy-two thousand) on the Executive Officer of Nagar Panchayat Dasna ("Executive Officer"). The directions were issued by the NGT for discharge of untreated sewage into drain for several years. NGT while passing the impugned order noted that on the previous date of hearing, the Executive Officer had shared incorrect information in respect of operationalisation of sewage treatment plant. NGT imposed interim environmental compensation which was computed for a period for 5 (five) years