Disposed

Jeganathan Kumarasamy v. State of Tamil Nadu through Its Chief Secretary

NGT22 Sept 2026Original Application No. 90/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The applicant alleged environmental and public-health hazards from an improperly maintained organic solid waste management facility operated by the Greater Chennai Corporation adjacent to his property. A Joint Committee inspected the site and recommended remedial measures. The TNPCB communicated these to the Corporation. Subsequently, the Micro Composting Centre was demolished between December 2025 and January 2026, and waste is now transported to the Chetpet SWMS Bio-CNG Plant. The Tribunal found the grievance fully addressed and closed the application.

What did the court decide?

Original Application closed as the Micro Composting Centre has been demolished and waste processing shifted to Chetpet SWMS Bio-CNG Plant; grievance fully addressed.

Jeganathan Kumarasamy vs State of Tamil Nadu through Its… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

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Item No.1:-

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI

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Tuesday, the 22^nd day of September, 2026.

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[Through Physical Hearing (Hybrid Option)]

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Original Application No.90 of 2024 (SZ)

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[Earlier O.A. No.772 of 2023 (PB)]

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IN THE MATTER OF

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K. Jeganathan

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S/o Kumarasamy, Plot No.8 & 9, Surya Avenue, Tropical Enclave, Pallikarani, Chennai.

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…Applicant(s)

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Versus
1. State of Tamil Nadu
Through its Chief Secretary
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Secretariat,
Chennai – 600 009.
2. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
Rep. by its Member Secretary,
76, Mount Salai, Guindy,
Chennai – 600 032.
3. The District Collector
Chennai District,
Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai,
4 th Floor, Singaravelar Maaligai,
62 Rajaji Salai, Pallikaranai,
Chennai – 600 001.
4. The Greater Chennai Corporation
Rep. by its Commissioner,
Ripon Building,
Chennai – 600 003.
[R4 – Suo Motu impleaded as per Order dt.26.08.2025]

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…Respondent(s)

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For Applicant(s): Mr. K. Jeganathan (Party-in-Person) None Appeared

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For Respondent(s): Mr. J. Pradeep for R1 & R3. Mr. S. Sai Sathya Jith for R2. Dr. S.B. Nirmalatha represented Mr. N.R. Ramesh Kannan for R4.

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Judgement Reserved on: 08^th September, 2026.

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Page 1 of 5

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CORAM :

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HON’BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE Dr. PRASHANT GARGAVA, EXPERT MEMBER

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J U D G M E N T

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Delivered by Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member

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1. The Applicant filed the above Original Application as a letter petition before the Principal Bench of this Tribunal and it was registered as O.A. No.772 of 2023 (PB) . When the application was taken up on 07.02.2024, the Principal Bench directed that a Joint Committee may examine the issues raised therein. Subsequently, this Bench transferred the application and renumbered it as O.A. No.90 of 2024 (SZ) .

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2. The applicant is the owner of the property bearing Survey Nos. 732/1B3 and 732/1B4, situated at Surya Avenue, Tropical Enclave, Pallikaranai, Chennai, with a hollow-block compound wall along the western, southern and northern boundaries of his property. Adjacent to the Applicant’s property is a plot managed by the Greater Chennai Corporation ( GCC ), situated at 3^rd Street, Mallikeswaran Nagar, Pallikaranai, Chennai, wherein an organic solid waste management facility is being operated.

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3. The issues raised by the Applicant concern that the organic solid waste management facility was not being maintained and operated in a proper manner. Due to the improper maintenance of the facility, the compound wall situated on the western side of the Applicant’s property had been damaged. Further, it is alleged that organic waste was being stored and allowed to remain in the open area, and stagnation of water in and around the facility resulted in an unhygienic condition and became a breeding ground for insects and mosquitoes, causing environmental and public-health concerns to the residents in the surrounding locality.

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4. Upon notice, the learned counsels entered their appearance and filed the reports.

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Page 2 of 5

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5. The 2^nd Respondent, namely, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), submitted its report dated 16.12.2024 in compliance with the order dated 07.02.2024 passed by the NGT, Principal Bench, whereby a Joint Committee was constituted to examine the issues raised by the Applicant. Accordingly, the Joint Committee conducted a site inspection on 22.03.2024 in the presence of the Applicant and officials of the Revenue Department, Greater Chennai Corporation. Based on the inspection, the Joint Committee submitted its recommendations, inter alia, the following remedial measures:

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i. Construction of a permanent wall on the eastern side of the facility to prevent organic waste/compost from spilling into the Applicant’s property and shifting the storage area to the north-western side under a covered shed.

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ii. Since the actual processing was found to be less than 5 TPD, the Committee recommended permitting the facility to continue at the existing location, subject to restricting its capacity to below 5 TPD and ensuring that its operation does not cause pollution or nuisance.

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iii. The GCC was recommended to obtain an appropriate amendment of the authorisation under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, corresponding to the actual peak quantity processed.

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6. The status report dated 27.03.2026 filed by the 4^th Respondent/Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), stated that the Joint Committee inspected the site on 22.03.2024 and noted that the Micro Composting Centre ( MCC ), Mallikeswaran Nagar, Pallikaranai, was established by the GCC for processing organic waste. The MCC is situated on an extent of 22,000 sq.ft. and was operated by Hand in Hand, an NGO. The western side abuts a crematorium, while residential plots are situated on the northern, southern, and eastern sides. The Applicant’s property in S.F. Nos.732/1B3 and 732/1B4 is situated adjacent to the eastern side of the MCC. Upon analysis of the soil and groundwater samples collected during the inspection, no contamination attributable to the operation of the MCC was observed.

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Page 3 of 5

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7. The TNPCB, being the nodal agency, communicated the Joint Committee’s recommendations to the GCC vide letter dated 06.12.2024, calling the Corporation to take necessary action in accordance with the recommendations. Pursuant to the orders of the Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, dated 01.09.2023, the Superintending Engineer, Buildings Department, GCC, had issued a Circular dated 01.09.2023. The Micro Composting Centre at Mallikeswaran Nagar, Pallikaranai, was demolished between 28.12.2025 and 07.01.2026. Following the demolition, the GCC has decided to construct a lounge along with changing and rest rooms for its sanitation workers, and a work order was issued on 29.12.2025, which is in progress. The solid waste generated in Pallikaranai is being transported to the Chetpet SWMS Bio-CNG Plant for appropriate waste-to-energy processing. Therefore, the grievance raised by the Applicant has been addressed, as the subject MCC itself has since been demolished and is no longer in operation. Consequently, the environmental concerns raised in respect of the said facility do not survive in their earlier form.

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8. Upon consideration of the pleadings, the report of the Joint Committee and the subsequent action taken by the Greater Chennai Corporation, it is evident that the issue raised by the Applicant related to the improper maintenance and operation of the Micro Composting Centre (MCC) at Mallikeswaran Nagar, Pallikaranai, including alleged spillage of organic waste, damage to the compound wall, stagnation of water and consequent environmental and public-health concerns.

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9. The Joint Committee, pursuant to the directions of the Tribunal, conducted a site inspection on 22.03.2024 in the presence of the Applicant. The Committee also conducted analysis of soil and groundwater samples, and no contamination attributable to the operation of the MCC was observed. Nevertheless, remedial measures were recommended, including prevention of spillage of organic waste, provision of covered storage and regulation of the processing capacity.

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Page 4 of 5

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10. In this regard, the TNPCB communicated the recommendations of the Joint Committee to the GCC vide letter dated 06.12.2024, calling upon the Corporation to take necessary action. Subsequently, the Micro Composting Centre was demolished between 28.12.2025 and 07.01.2026.

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11. Following the demolition, the solid waste generated in Pallikaranai is being transported to the Chetpet SWMS Bio-CNG Plant for appropriate processing under the waste-to-energy mechanism. The Corporation has commenced steps for the construction of a lounge along with changing and rest rooms for sanitation workers, for which a work order was issued on 29.12.2025, and the work is stated to be in progress.

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12. As stated earlier, the facility is no longer in operation at the subject premises and has been demolished. Consequently, the Applicant’s prayer seeking permanent closure of the facility stands duly addressed.

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13. Since the grievance raised in the present Original Application has been addressed by the concerned authorities, nothing further survives for adjudication in the matter.

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14. Accordingly, the Original Application [O.A. No. 90 of 2024 (SZ)] is closed.

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Sd/-

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Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM

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Sd/-

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Dr. Prashant Gargava, EM

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Internet – Yes/No All India NGT Reporter – Yes/No

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O.A. No.90/2024 (SZ) 22^nd September, 2026. Mn.

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Page 5 of 5

Jeganathan Kumarasamy v. State of Tamil Nadu through Its Chief Secretary

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Jeganathan Kumarasamy v. State of Tamil Nadu through Its Chief Secretary

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

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