Disposed

Boby Varghese vs

NGT7 Sept 2026Original Application No. 505/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The National Green Tribunal granted an adjournment to the applicant who did not appear, directing the registry to inform him about rescheduling. The Bench further transferred the matter to the Southern Zone Bench at Chennai, deeming that location appropriate for the cause of action.

What did the court decide?

Adjourning the application; transferring the case to the Southern Zone Bench at Chennai for listing on 28.09.2026.

Boby Varghese vs — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

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Item No.03

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Court No. 2

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BEFORE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No. 505/2026

Boby Varghese

Applicant

Versus

State of Kerala & Ors.

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Respondents

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Date of hearing: 07.09.2026

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR TYAGI, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER

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Applicant: None for the applicant.

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ORDER

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The applicant-Mr. Boby Varghese made complaint dated 13.05.2026 on the Public Grievances Portal of this Tribunal, which has been treated and registered as Original Application (O.A.) No. 505/2026 for exercise of suo moto jurisdiction in view of law laid down by Hon’ble Supreme Court in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha, (2022)

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13 SCC 401.

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2. The Applicant has raised grievances regarding unauthorised largescale sand dredging/mining from Vembanad-kol Wetland (Ramsar Site no.1214) in Ernakulum district, Kerala under the guise of desilting and maintenance in violation of the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, CRZ Notification 2019 and other applicable laws in Kerala in connection with National Highway Development works. The backwater wetland ecosystem of Vembanad falls within CRZ-IB designated as an ecologically sensitive Area under CRZ Notification, 2019. The contractor KCC Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. engaged for construction of the Six-lanning of Thuravoor to Paravoor section of NH-66 in Kerala on EPC mode under Bharatmala Pariyojna, is stated to be the primary beneficiary of this large-scale extraction. The State

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Government is stated to have exempted the dredged material from royalty and seigniorage on the ground that the material is of no commercial value. 3. The Applicant has not appeared before this Tribunal today physically or through V.C. However, instead of dismissing the application in default, we grant an adjournment for appearance of the Applicant before this Tribunal physically or through V.C.

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The Registry is directed to inform the applicant about the date of hearing fixed and to ask him to join the proceedings physically or through V.C. and to produce the material available with him on the next date of hearing fixed.

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Even though the present case has been listed before this Bench by registering Original Application, on the basis of complaint made by the Applicant, with approval and under order of Hon’ble Chairperson, but in view of the facts and circumstances of the case including the fact that the place of accrual of cause of action lies within jurisdiction of the Southern Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Chennai, we are of the considered view that it will be appropriate if the case is heard by Southern Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Chennai.

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Accordingly, the Registry is directed to list the matter before the Southern Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Chennai on 28.09.2026 after obtaining orders from Hon’ble the Chairperson for transfer of the case, if so required.

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Arun Kumar Tyagi, JM

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Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM

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September 07^th , 2026 Original Application No. 505/2026 SN

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Boby Varghese vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Boby Varghese vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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