Dhirajlal Panchabhai Vachani vs. Union Of India

S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Civil Appeal No(s). 480/2023 M/S R.J. TRIVEDI AND CO. & ORS. Appellant(s) VERSUS UNION OF INDIA & ORS. Respondent(s) (IA No. 55293/2024 - APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS) Date : 26-11-2024 This matter was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B.R. GAVAI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.V. VISWANATHAN For Appellant(s) Mr. Anand Varma, AOR Ms. Apoorva Pandey, Adv. Ms. Adyasha Nanda, Adv. For Respondent(s) Mr. K M Nataraj, A.S.G. Ms. Swarupma Chaturvedi, Sr. Adv. Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR Mr. Vinayak Sharma, Adv. Mr. Satvika Thakur, Adv. Mr. M.A. Venkata Subramanian, Adv. Mr. Rohit K. Singh, AOR Mr. Vijay Kumar, Adv. Mr. Pritam Bishwas, Adv. Ms. Aastha Mehta, Adv. Ms. Deepanwita Priyanka, AOR Ms. Prerana Mohapatra, Adv. Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, AOR Ms. Devyani Bhatt, Adv. Ms. Sneha Menon, Adv. Shankey Agrawal, AOR

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R

Civil Appeal No(s). 480/2023

1. Appeal is admitted. 2. Interim order granted by this Court shall continue to operate, until further orders. Digitally signed by NARENDRA PRASAD Date: 2024.11.27 19:12:25 IST Reason: Signature Not Verified

3. The parties are directed to complete the pleadings, in the meantime.

IA No. 55293/2024

1. By the order impugned in the appeal, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the Gujarat State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (Gujarat SEIAA) to decide the application made by the applicant herein for grant of environment clearance, within two months.

2. The present application has been filed by the applicants pointing out that though there was a direction by the NGT to Gujarat SEIAA to decide the application for environment clearances within two months, the same is not being decided on the ground of pendency of the appeal before this Court.

3. The appeal before this Court only challenges a part of the order regarding issue of environmental damage. Insofar as the direction with regard to the consideration of the application by the Gujarat SEIAA within a specified period is concerned, none of the parties have challenged the same.

4. We therefore allow this application and direct the Gujarat SEIAA to consider and decide the application filed by the applicant herein seeking grant of environmental clearance, in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible and in any case within a period of three months from today.

(NARENDRA PRASAD) (ANU BHALLA) DEPUTY REGISTRAR COURT MASTER

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