Remanded

Sooraj Bali v. District Megistrate

NGT17 Apr 2026Original Application No. 414/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Applicant challenged continued operation of a closed leather processing society violating 2013 closure order. Court directed UPPCB to impose environmental damage compensation and constituted a committee to ascertain damage and ensure remedial action within six months.

What did the court decide?

Direction to UPPCB to impose environmental damage compensation. Constitution of a committee to ascertain damage and ensure remedial action within six months. Action report to be filed via email.

Sooraj Bali vs District Megistrate — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

¶1

Item No.25

¶2

Court No. 1

¶3

BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

¶4

Original Application No. 414/2025

¶5

Sooraj Bali Applicant

¶6

Versus

¶7

State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. Respondent(s)

¶8

Date of hearing: 17.04.2026

¶9

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

¶10

Applicant: Mr. Tarun Cummra, Adv. for Applicant

¶11

Respondents: Mr. Pradeep Misra and Mr. Daleep Dhyani, Advs. for UPPCB Mr. Ankit Verma, Adv. for the State of UP Dr. Varddan Suman, Adv. for R - 6

¶12

ORDER

¶13

In this Original Application (OA), applicant has raised the grievance against respondent no.6-Hapudia Leather Processing Society, located in Village Dungar, Vikash Khand Rohta, District Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (U.P.).

¶14

The applicant has alleged that respondent no.6 was engaged in leather processing by use of dead animals’ skin and was operating in violation of the environmental norms. Further allegation of the applicant is that the process is highly hazardous which causes enormous environmental damage leading to the health issues.

¶15

The Chief Secretary, State of UP has filed the response affidavit dated 16.04.2026 disclosing that closure order dated 22.03.2013 was passed by the UPPCB and unit has been closed down on 13.04.2026. The disclosure so made in the reply of Chief Secretary, State of UP is as under:

¶16

¶17

“

¶18

8. That it is most respectfully submitted that the District Magistrate, Meerut (herein referred to as Respondent No.3) vide his office letter no.7025/OSD-Camp/2026 dated 13.04.2026 has informed the deponent that in respectful compliance of order dated 02.04.2026 passed by this Hon'ble Tribunal and in compliance of the closure order dated 22.03.2013 issued by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the Hapudia Leather Processing Society (herein after referred to as Respondent No.6) has been closed 13.04.2026, and the closure order dated 22.03.2013 on passed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board is duly complied with. Along with the said communication of the Respondent No.3, compliance/closure report has also been annexed. A copy of letter dated 13.04.2026 along with closure/compliance report is annexed herewith and marked as Annexure R-1 (Colly).

¶19

9. That the Respondent No.3 Vide his no.44/G-210/2026 dated 13.04.2026 has also informed the Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board about the compliance of the closure order dated 22.03.2013. A copy of letter dated 13.04.2026 sent to the Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board is annexed herewith and marked as Annexure R-2.”

¶20

It is an extreme case where closure order passed in the year 2013 has been given effect to in the year 2026. Meaning thereby, inspite of the closure order, respondent no.6 has been permitted to operate for almost 13 years. The proceedings of sealing have been placed on record which are dated 13.04.2026.

¶21

The applicant has further alleged that operations of respondent no.6 have caused substantial loss to farmers, who have suffered recurring crop damage due to the unchecked discharge of industrial effluents and wastewater.

¶22

Hence, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) is required to take appropriate action for imposition of environmental damage compensation upon the respondent no.6 by duly following the Principles of Natural Justice, UPPCB is directed accordingly.

¶23

The restorative measures are also required to be taken, hence, we constitute a Committee comprising of RO, MOEF&CC, Lucknow, Member

¶24

¶25

Secretary, UPPCB, District Magistrate, Meerut. The Committee will ascertain the damage caused on account of the illegal operation and violation of environmental norms by respondent no.6 and will ensure appropriate remedial action. Let this exercise be completed within a period of six months.

¶26

The UPPCB and the above committee are directed to file their action taken report before the Registrar General of the Tribunal via email at [email protected], preferably in the form of a searchable PDF/OCRsupported PDF and not in the form of an Image PDF. If deemed necessary, the matter will be listed for consideration before the bench again.

¶27

Prakash Shrivastava, CP

¶28

Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM

¶29

Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM

¶30

April 17, 2026 Original Application No. 414/2025 JG.

¶31

Sooraj Bali v. District Megistrate

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Sooraj Bali v. District Megistrate

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Pramod vs State of Uttar Pradesh

News Item Titled Balauda Bazar Ke Real Ispat Plant Mai Hadasha 6 Shramikon Ki Mout 5 Gambheer Ghayal Appearing in Rajasthan Patrika Dated 23.01.2026. vs Central Pollution Control Board

News Item Titled Chhattishgarh Yahan Shivnath Nadi Par Kabja 10 Kilometer Duri Ghatane Aur Mitti Lane Ke Liye Bana Liya Avedh Anicate Appearing in Dainik Bahshkar News Paper Dated 5TH January 2026 vs State of Chattisgarh

Suo Moto Titled Betul 7 Lakh Logon Ki Life Line Macchna Nadi Dam Todne Ki Kagaar Par Appear in Dainik Bhaskar Newspaper Dated 12TH March 2026 vs State of Madhya Pradesh

Green Space Ngo vs State of Goa

News Item Titled Avaidh Muram Parivahan 100 Se Jyada Prakarno Me Shirf Vahan Kiye Jabt Appearing in Db Star Dainik Bhaskar Raipur Dated 9TH November 2025 vs State of Chattisgarh

News Item Titled Bina Fitness Wale Vahan Fela Rahe Pradushan Badh Rahi Sadak Durghatnaye Esi Saal 110 Logon Ki Gai Jaan Appearing in Db Star Dainik Bhaskar Raipur Dated 30TH October 2025 vs State of Chattisgarh

Raj Krishna Kewat vs State of Madhya Pradesh

Pramod vs State of Uttar Pradesh

Pramod vs State of Uttar Pradesh

Haider Ali vs Union of India

News Item Titled "Arsenic Found in Groundwater in 25 States Fluoride in 27 States: Gov" Appearing in Hindustan Dated 30.11.2023 vs

News Item Titled "Arsenic Found in Groundwater in 25 States Fluoride in 27 States: Gov" Appearing in Hindustan Dated 30.11.2023 vs

News Item Titled "Arsenic Found in Groundwater in 25 States Fluoride in 27 States: Gov" Appearing in Hindustan Dated 30.11.2023 vs