Supreme Court stays action ordered by NGT against Ghaziabad local body

The Supreme Court stayed the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order for punitive action against the Executive Officer of Dasna Nagar Panchayat in Ghaziabad for a non-functional sewage treatment plant. The NGT had imposed an interim environmental compensation of ₹23.7 lakh on the local body for failing to address water pollution issues. The Supreme Court’s bench, comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih, ordered the compensation to be deposited with the court by December 2, 2024. The local body argued that the plant’s non-functionality was due to technical and financial obstacles beyond its control. The Supreme Court’s stay order highlights the challenges faced by local bodies in complying with environmental norms and the need for a balanced approach in imposing penalties. The case raises significant legal questions about the responsibilities of local authorities and the principles of natural justice in environmental compliance.