News Item Titled "Probe Under Way as Firecracker Explosion Kills Two in Kozhikode" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 06.04.2026 vs

NGT10 Apr 2026Original Application No. 236/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

N.G.T. Bench recorded news item about firecracker explosion in Kozhikode causing deaths. Bench referenced compensation guidelines and transferred OA to Southern Zonal Bench for further action.

What did the court decide?

Notice issued to respondents; original application transferred to Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai.

What the court decided

News Item Titled "Probe Under Way as Firecracker… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

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Court No. 1

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Item No. 7

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BEFORE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No. 236/2026

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News Item Titled “Probe Under Way As Firecracker Explosion Kills Two in Kozhikode” appearing in the Hindu Dated 06.04.2026

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Date of hearing: 10.04.2026

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON HON’BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER

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ORDER

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This original application is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled " Probe under way as firecracker explosion kills two in Kozhikode” appearing in the Hindu Dated 06.04.2026.

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The news item relates to death of two persons in a fire cracker explosion in Kozhikode, Kerala. As per the report massive explosion took place in the rented house around 10 PM. Three people sustained grave injuries and are admitted in Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. Explosion took place on the top floor of the house while making fire crackers for Vishu Festival, loud burst was heard in one Kilometer area.

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The newspaper report does not indicate that any compensation has been paid to the victims or their legal representatives of firecracker explosion. The Tribunal in similar circumstances vide order dated 11.06.2021 passed in O.A. No. 44/2021 in the matter of titled as In re: News item published in The News Indian Express dated 12.02.2021 titled “At

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least 19 dead in Virudhunagar firecracker factory blast, more than

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30 injured” has awarded compensation of Rs. 20,00,000/- to the legal heirs of the deceased and has also awarded the compensation to the injured by observing as under:

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“ xxx …………………………..…….xxx…………………….………….xxx 9. … . We also find that scale of compensation based on restitution principle needs to be awarded. Procedure of this Tribunal is summary and akin to public law remedy. Compensation can be assessed on reasonable basis guided by restitution principle atleast at floor level, leaving other remedies of the victims open. Thus, broadly agreeing with the Committee, we direct that the scale of compensation should be Rs.20 lakhs in respect of each of the deceased victims and Rs.15 lakhs to persons who have burns in excess of 50% and Rs.10 lakhs for persons who have burns from 25 to 50% and Rs.5 lakhs for persons who have injuries between 5 to 25%. Victims who were treated as outpatients and who had but minor degree of burns or other forms of simple injuries shall be paid Rs.2 lakhs.”

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The above matter indicates violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

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The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.

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Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897 .

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Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:

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(1). District Magistrate Kozhikode, Kerala Kozhikode Collector, Civil Station P.O, Kozhikode, Kerala.

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(2). Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), through its Member Secretary, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi-110032.

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(3). Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Head Office, Pattom PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala-695004.

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(4). Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, through its regional office at Bangalore, Kendriya Sadan, 4^th Floor, E&F Wings, 17^th Main Road, Koramangala II Block, Bangalore.

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Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate, then the said respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal.

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Since the matter falls within the jurisdiction of Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal, therefore, the OA is transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai for appropriate further action. Let the original record of the OA be transferred to Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai.

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List before Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai on 01.07.2026.

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Prakash Shrivastava, CP

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Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM

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April 10, 2026 Original Application No. 236/2026 P

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News Item Titled "Probe Under Way as Firecracker Explosion Kills Two in Kozhikode" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 06.04.2026 vs

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News Item Titled "Probe Under Way as Firecracker Explosion Kills Two in Kozhikode" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 06.04.2026 vs

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