Allowed an original application alleging illegal groundwater extraction. Directed the DJB CEO to investigate specified borewells and take action within six weeks of receiving a detailed complaint.
Permission granted to file a detailed complaint with CEO, DJB; action directed to be taken within 6 weeks.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
Item No. 4 Court No. 1
BEFORE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 242/2026 (IA No. 301/2026)
Bhola Tanwar Applicant
Versus
Govt. of N.C.T. of Delhi & Ors. Respondent(s)
Date of hearing: 20.04.2026
CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON HON’BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER HON’BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER
Applicant: Mr. Harsh Singhal, Mr. Udit Chawla, Mr. Utkarsh Singhal, Mr. Mudit Chawla & Ms. Manisha Tanwar, Advs. for Applicant
Respondents: Ms. Priyanka Swami & Ms. Dippt Anubhuti, Advs. for DJB
ORDER
extraction of groundwater from the following borewells which are operating without any permission from the competent authority:
| DATE | PARTICULARS |
|---|---|
| 06.11.2025 | The illegal borewell drilling activity at Farm House No. 11-A, Green Window Scheme, Asal Farm, Satbari, Mallu Farm Left Road, PS: Maidan Garhi. The complaint for illegal borewell was made to the Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
| 07.11.2025 | An illegal borewell was permitted by the office of SDM Mehrauli, PS: Fatehpur Beri on the basis of fraud complaint. Permission was issued for one borewell in Khasra No. 442/2 Min (0-15-8), Village Gadaipur, tehsil Mehrauli, New Delhi-110030, however, more than one borewells were installed. |
| 09.11.2025 | Under the jurisdiction of PS: Vasant Vihar, two illegal borewells were installed on the basis of fake permission. |
| 24.12.2025 | At Balraj Farm, Dera Bhatti Road, PS: Maidan Garhi, illegal borewells were installed through fake permissions and there is apprehension that there was exchange of Rs.20 lacs per borewell for the purpose of installation multiple borewells on one permission. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
1
| 05.01.2026 | Illegal borewells were installed at Farm House No. 24 & 64, Bhatti Village, PS: Maidan Garhi. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
|---|---|
| 06.01.2026 | Illegal borewells were installed at Farm House No. 52, Bhatti Village, PS: Maidan Garhi. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
| 24.01.2026 | Illegal borewells were installed at Farm No. CN-1157, Siddharth Ashram, Ram Mandir Road, Vasant Kunj Road, PS: PS: Vasant Kunj. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. Illegal borewells were installed at Farm House No. 10, Mother Teresa Scheme, Bhatti Village, PS: Maidan Garhi. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
| 25.01.2026 | Illegal borewells were installed at C-1157, Farm House No. 10, Avenue Scheme, Near Jain Farm, Church Mall Road, PS: Vasant Kunj. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. Illegal borewells were installed at Neeli Jheel, Forest Department Area, Bhatti Village, PS: Maidan Garhi. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
| 26.01.2026 | Illegal borewells were installed at Khasra No. 1673, behind Farm House No. C-4, Shani Dham Road, New Delhi. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
| 09.03.2026 | Illegal borewells were installed at Farm House No. 52/9, Pragati Marg, Sultapur, PS: Fatehpur Beri. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
| 15.03.2026 | Illegal borewells were installed at Farm House No. 36 near farm No. 5, Woodlane Executive Club Road, Ghitorni, PS: Fatehpur Beri. Complaint in this regard was also made to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
| 16.03.2026 | Illegal borewells were installed at Farm House No. 9, Pragati Marg, Sultanpur, PS: Fatehpur Beri. Complaint in this regard was also to Police Control Room but no action was taken. |
2
above as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of 6 weeks from the date of the receipt of the complaint.
Prakash Shrivastava, CP
Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM
Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM
April 20, 2026 Original Application No. 242/2026 (IA No. 301/2026) P
3
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the applicant is permitted to file a detailed complaint regarding illegal borewell drilling to the designated authority.
Bhola Tanwar
Govt. of N.C.T. of Delhi
Prakash Shrivastava
A. Senthil Vel
Afroz Ahmad
As recorded by the court registry
An application for interim relief made while the main matter is pending.
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
