HC prod, objections & protests: How Carbide convoy rolled down history
on Dec 3, 2024.
The bench had expressed surprise that even 20 years after the PIL was filed in 2004 by activist Alok Pratap Singh, little to nothing was done for the disposal of 337 metric tonnes of packaged waste kept at the Union Carbide factory.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The court asked the state govt to complete all the formalities for the purpose within a week, failing which contempt proceedings would be initiated against the principal secretary of the gas relief department. If any department or official created any problem towards the disposal of the waste, the principal secretary would have to apprise the court so that strict action could be taken against him.
On Jan 6, 2025, HC asked the state govt to decide on the disposal of toxic waste at the Pithampur facility within six weeks.
The state govt informed the court on Feb 18, 2025, that the waste was transported to Pithampur but the process was on hold due to public protests instigated by 'misleading' media reports.
The court had asked the media to refrain from reporting anything 'misleading' and not based on facts. It further asked the govt to consider the objections raised by NGOs or other civil society groups opposed to the incineration of toxic waste at Pithampur.
The state govt was also asked to hold a trial of waste disposal before proceeding with the bulk incineration. The state govt stated that the trial would be conducted in three phases, with 10 metric tonnes of waste incinerated in each phase.
The trial was scheduled for Feb 27, March 4, and March 10, 2025. A report on the incineration and its impact on the atmosphere and earth would be sent to the CPCB. Then, in a project report submitted to the court on March 20, 2025, the state govt informed the court that the disposal of packaged waste would be completed in a minimum of 185 days and a maximum of 377 days.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
During the hearing of the petition on March 27, 2027, the state govt told the high court that the trial was successful and sought permission for the disposal of the remaining waste in Pithampur.
The HC gave the nod to the project submitted by the state govt. The state govt, in its report submitted to the MP high court, reiterated that the disposal of packaged waste would be completed in a minimum of 185 days and a maximum of 377 days.
A doctor from Indore filed a petition against the disposal in the Supreme Court while the process of disposal was underway, but it was rejected by the apex court.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Sidharthan's death following ragging: Kerala HC directs govt to deposit Rs 7 lakh in registry
Kochi: High court has directed the state govt to deposit Rs 7 lakh, the amount ordered by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as compensation to the parents of J S Sidharthan, within 10 days with the high court registry. Sidharthan, a student at the Pookode campus of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, was found hanging in the bathroom of his college hostel on Feb 18, 2024 following alleged brutal ragging. The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji issued the direction while considering the state's petition challenging the NHRC's order dated Oct 1, 2024. The court noted that the petition had been filed eight months after the NHRC's order and sought urgent relief. Questioning the delay, the bench made the deposit of the compensation amount a condition for entertaining the petition. HC was also noted that the petition appeared to have been prompted by the NHRC's direction to the chief secretary to appear before it on July 10 for non-compliance with its earlier order. HC permitted the state to amend its petition to explain the delay in filing. In the meantime, if any request is made by the state govt for deferment of the appearance of the concerned official before the NHRC, the commission shall consider such request. However, this liberty shall be subject to the condition that the compensation amount is deposited with the registry, HC clarified. The matter has been adjourned to July 11. Acting on a complaint filed by BJP leader Sandeep Vachaspathi, the NHRC directed the state on Oct 1, 2024, to pay Rs 7 lakh as compensation to the deceased's parents. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Delhi HC seeks response from Reliance Infra, Shanghai Sinofinn New Energy Investment on Aravali Power's petition
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a response from Reliance Infrastructure and Shanghai Sinofinn New Energy Investment on a petition by Aravali Power Company , seeking enforcement of the Rs 600-crore arbitral award that it had won against the Anil Ambani firm in December last year. Aravali Power, a joint venture between NTPC , Haryana Power Generation Company Ltd and Indraprastha Power Generation Company, said that Rs 572.62 crore plus interest at the rate of 10% have fallen due as on May 26 and the same may be 'realized by the court' from RInfra and its Chinese associate and released to it. Aravali Power, which operates the Indira Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project in Jhajjar district, Haryana, argued that since no interim stay was granted by the HC and the requisite period for RInfra to make an application to set aside the arbitral award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act has also 'elapsed', there is no impediment in the enforcement now. 'In spite of this crystal-clear position, the judgment debtor (RInfra) has not honoured the said arbitral award,' the Aravali Power counsel Adarsh Tripathi and Vikram Singh Baid told the HC. The HC posted Aravali Power's enforcement petition along with the RInfra and the Chinese firm's petition for further hearing on July 28. In March, RInfra had also challenged the December 18 majority arbitral award and sought its quashing on multiple grounds, including denial of natural justice, violation of basic fundamental policy of Indian Law and fundamental principles of justice and denial of proper opportunity to present the case. It alleged that the tribunal had wrongly upheld the termination of the contracts as justified and lawful while awarding various claims in favour of Aravali Power. 'The arbitral tribunal infracted the most fundamental notions or principles of justice by unilaterally altering the contract granted in violation of the contract and without any evidence,' the joint petition by RInfra and its Chinese collaborator had stated. The dispute arises due to the alleged damages suffered by Aravali Power as a direct result of RInfra's and Shanghai Sinofinn's breach of contract relating to the installation of a flue-gas desulfurization system package for the coal-based Jhajjar power plant having a capacity of 3X500 megawatt. In 2016, a memorandum of understanding was entered into between RInfra and Shanghai Sinofinn to provide a framework to develop, undertake and deliver world class environmental protection retrofit projects for control of environmental pollution. Thereafter, licences were granted by Shanghai Sinofinn to RInfra for the non-exclusive right to design, construct, manufacture, use and sell the process and plant for limestone-based flue gas desulfurization systems in India. Aravali Power had issued notification of awards to the Ambani firm and its associate for supply of limestone-based flue gas desulfurization systems package for the Jhajjar project and inland transportation, insurance, installation, testing and commissioning, and conducting guarantee tests for the limestone-based flue gas desulfurization systems package. However, Aravali Power in 2018 served a show cause Notice to RInfra and the Chinese company for alleged incomplete drawings, incomplete bought-out-items ordering, and non-submission of bank guarantee. Alleging breach of contract against RInfra and Chinese company, Aravali Power then issued notice of termination and invoked arbitration in 2018. The Supreme Court appointed three-member arbitral tribunal in a majority award granted a principal amount of Rs 419 crore with Rs 5 crore cost and an interest of Rs 149 crore on the principal amount and future interest on the principal amount till actual date of payment.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
Rape of B'desh Hindu woman sparks anger, BNP 'supporter' held
Dhaka: The alleged rape of a 26-year-old minority Hindu woman in Bangladesh's Cumilla district by a "supporter" of former PM Khaleda Zia's BNP has sparked widespread outrage, with the High Court directing that the video of her assault, which went viral on social media, be removed immediately and she be given police protection. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Fazar Ali has been arrested on the charge of rape while four others are accused of making and circulating the video, said authorities, who have also been directed to ensure medical support to the woman. HC asked them to file a report within 15 days on the progress of investigations into the Thursday night incident. The video surfaced online on Saturday night. Condemning the incident and demanding exemplary punishment, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said there is a "dangerous conspiracy afoot to damage BNP's reputation". The party is yet to clarify whether Fazar was linked to it. Fakhrul claimed the woman was a Hindu expatriate's wife. Fazar, after the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League govt's fall last year, started introducing himself as a BNP member and attending its programmes, according to sources in political parties. He's seen in photos of BNP's Ramchandrapur South Union office's inauguration on Dec 14 last year. University students, including in Dhaka, held marches in solidarity with the victim, calling for justice. While Naripokkho, a women's rights body, called on citizens to break silence and resist violence against women, human rights organisations such as Ain o-Salish Kendra and Manusher Jonno Foundation called for "swift trial and exemplary punishment". The woman filed a case on Friday. She said she had come with her children to visit her parents, and on Thursday night, Fazar came to her house and asked her to open the door. When she refused, he broke the door, entered the house and raped her, according to authorities.
