In a recent development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has provided interim relief to Trident Group, owned by Rajya Sabha member Rajinder Gupta. The court has instructed that no coercive action should be taken by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) against the company without allowing a 30-day period for rectification of any minor defects or deficiencies. This decision follows the court’s observation that there was no immediate environmental emergency justifying urgent action against the company.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry, emphasized that the PPCB must provide Trident Group with a reasonable opportunity to address any identified issues before resorting to coercive measures. The court also mentioned that in the absence of a demonstrated emergency situation involving pollution of water bodies or the environment, any enforcement actions should be taken only after the specified 30-day period.
Furthermore, the court granted Trident Group the option to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in case the PPCB initiates any coercive actions against the company. This ruling comes in the wake of a recent inspection conducted by the PPCB at the company’s facilities on April 30. Trident Group had raised concerns about procedural irregularities and alleged political motives following a change in its founder’s political affiliation, which the PPCB refuted.
The company had asserted that its industrial divisions held valid environmental consents and approvals, expressing serious reservations about the PPCB’s abrupt actions. It highlighted that during the inspection on April 30, approximately 30 officials entered the premises, collected samples, and purportedly deviated from the prescribed statutory procedures under environmental laws.
