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Smart Summary

Factual and Procedural Background

The order concerns several interlocutory applications (IAs) clustered under the “Agra Slaughterhouse matter,” the “Agra Heritage Fund matter,” and related environmental compliance issues for brick-kiln and ancillary industries in and around Agra, Hathras, Etah and Firozabad. The Court:

  • Considered a Joint Inspection Committee report dated 11-3-2002 dealing with the environmental impact of individual brick kilns.
  • Addressed multiple batches of IAs seeking permission either to continue or commence operations.
  • Dispensed with the personal presence of the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, and fixed future listing dates ranging from two to four weeks for follow-up compliance reports.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether, in light of the Joint Inspection Committee’s findings and existing environmental regulations (including the 14-9-1999 Fly-Ash Notification under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986), specific brick-kiln owners should be permitted to operate, and if so, on what conditions.
  2. Whether brick kilns located within a 20-km radial distance of protected monuments or the Kasimpur Thermal Power Station must be closed or relocated, subject to verification by the Surveyor General of India.
  3. Whether industries situated in “no-gas-zone” areas may insist on gas supply or must relocate to eligible “gas-zone” areas.

Arguments of the Parties

Additional Solicitor General (for Union of India)

  • Undertook that the Surveyor General of India will, within four weeks, file a report specifying the exact radial distance of each brick kiln from significant monuments and from the Kasimpur Thermal Power Station, with assistance from ISRO if required.
  • Submitted that any kiln ultimately found within 20 km of such monuments or the power station would be ordered to shut down or relocate.

Applicants in the “No-Gas-Zone” IAs

  • Contended via affidavit that their units are located in areas where pipeline gas cannot be supplied and requested permission to continue operations without gas linkage.

Table of Precedents Cited

No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court’s analysis is primarily administrative and compliance-oriented:

  • After “considering the report dated 11-3-2002” of the Joint Inspection Committee, the Court categorized the brick kilns into three groups: (a) those temporarily allowed to operate immediately, (b) those allowed only after complying with Recommendation 3 and the Fly-Ash Notification, and (c) those that may not operate beyond three seasons even with compliance.
  • The permission to operate is expressly conditional: failure to meet any recommendation will attract legal penalties and permanent cancellation of the brick-kiln licence.
  • The Court accepted the Additional Solicitor General’s assurance about obtaining a precise distance survey. The outcome of that survey will determine whether additional closures or relocations are required.
  • For industries in “no-gas-zone” areas, the Court found that gas cannot be supplied in situ and held that relocation to a gas-zone area is a prerequisite for obtaining gas; hence, their applications were rejected.
  • In procedural directions, the Court dispensed with the Environment Secretary’s personal presence and set staggered timetables (two-, three- and four-week intervals) for fresh reports and further consideration of pending matters.

Holding and Implications

INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATIONS PARTIALLY ALLOWED AND PARTIALLY REJECTED WITH STRINGENT COMPLIANCE CONDITIONS.

Immediate Effect:

  • Fourteen identified brick kilns may operate forthwith but must implement the Joint Inspection Committee’s recommendations within two weeks.
  • Seven additional kilns may operate only after documented compliance with both Recommendation 3 and the Fly-Ash Notification.
  • Six kilns are limited to a maximum of three more operating seasons even if compliant.
  • Nineteen further industries are conditionally allowed to operate, subject to continuing compliance checks; any default will result in licence cancellation.
  • Applications from industries situated in “no-gas-zone” areas are rejected; relocation remains the only avenue for obtaining gas supply.

Broader Implications: The order reinforces a compliance-first approach to environmental regulation near ecologically sensitive and heritage zones. While no new legal precedent is articulated, the Court signals strict future scrutiny—including potential shutdowns—once precise distance measurements from monuments and the thermal power plant are on record.

    M.C Mehta v. Union Of India And Others

    Order

    Agra Slaughterhouse matter

    1. List after 15 days.

    2. Personal presence of the Secretary, Ministry of Environment for the time being is dispensed with.

    IAs Nos. 302, 304-05

    3. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. Considering the report dated 11-3-2002 submitted by the Joint Inspection Committee and observations made therein the following brick kiln-owners are permitted to operate temporarily their brick kilns on a specific condition that they would comply with the recommendations made by the Joint Inspection Committee within two weeks from today:

    (i) M/s Chiranjilal Gautam Ent Udyog, Naugava, Shadabad (S. No. 11)
    (ii) M/s Sohan Singh Jaidev Singh Ent Udyog, Naugava, Shadabad (S. No. 12)
    (iii) M/s Bharat Ent Udyog, Susayan, Shadabad (S. No. 14)
    (iv) M/s Shadabad Brick Works, Kunjalpur, Shadabad (S. No. 15)
    (v) M/s Agarwal Brick Factory, Badhar, Shadabad (S. No. 17)
    (vi) M/s Fool Brick Field, Kupa Road, Shadabad (S. No. 20)
    (vii) M/s Shukla Brick Field, Nagla Khanjma, Sehapau, Shadabad (S. No. 22)
    (viii) M/s Tyagi Brick Works, Nagla Brahman, Shadabad (S. No. 23)
    (ix) M/s Tenguria Brick Field, Kutakpur Rohai, Shamsabad, Agra (S. No. 25)
    (x) M/s Sharma Brick Field, Gari Gushai, Badwara Kalan, Shamsabad, Agra (S. No. 27)
    (xi) M/s Shiv Lal & Co. Brick Field, Khander, Fatehabad, Agra (S. No. 28)
    (xii) M/s Shankar Brick Field, Gidron, Fatehabad, Agra (S. No. 29)
    (xiii) M/s Om Brick Field, Dharra, Fatehabad, Agra (S. No. 30)
    (xiv) M/s Jai Bhawani Brick Field, Toola Sahpur, Shamsabad, Agra (S. No. 31)

    4. The following applicant brick kilns may be permitted to operate after compliance with the provisions of Recommendation 3 and the provisions of the notification dated 14-9-1999 under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, regarding use of fly ash:

    (i) M/s Kishan Swaroop & Sons, Murshan, Hathras (S. No. 1)
    (ii) M/s Bihari Jee Ent Udyog, Rohai, Korna Road, Hathras (S. No. 2)
    (iii) M/s Giriraj Ent Udyog, Rohai, Hathras (S. No. 3)
    (iv) M/s Bhagwan Ent Udyog, Bamoli, Hathras (S. No. 4)
    (v) M/s Rawat Brick Field, Loheta, Hathras (S. No. 7)
    (vi) M/s Baldev Brick Field, Khora Hazari, Hathras (S. No. 8)
    (vii) M/s Swami Ent Udyog, Penkwara, Hathras (S. No. 9)

    5. Based on Observation 18, the following brick kilns may not be allowed to operate beyond three seasons even after compliance with the provisions mentioned under Recommendation 3:

    (i) M/s Shanti Brick Works, Bishana, Hathras (S. No. 5)
    (ii) M/s Kiran Ent Udyog, Bishana, Hathras (S. No. 6)
    (iii) M/s Pushp Brick Works, Sherpur, Shadabad, Hathras (S. No. 16)
    (iv) M/s Prakash Ent Udyog, Badhar, Shadabad, Hathras (S. No. 18)
    (v) M/s Ram Ent Bhandar, Nagla Shalem, Shadabad, Hathras (S. No. 24)
    (vi) M/s Kanta Prasad and Bros. Brick Kiln, Fatehabad, Agra (S. No. 26)

    6. On failure to comply with any of the recommendations, they would not only be liable to be punished in accordance with law but their licence to run brick kiln would be cancelled permanently.

    7. Learned Additional Solicitor General submits that with regard to the radial distance, the Surveyor General of India would submit his report with regard to the distance of brick kilns from the significant monuments within four weeks from today. If finally it is found that any of the brick kiln/s is/are within 20 km of the radial distance then they would be directed to close down the said brick kiln/s and/or to relocate at some other place. With regard to the distance of Kasimpur Thermal Power Station also necessary radial distance of brick kilns would be stated, if necessary, with the assistance of ISRO.

    8. Stand over for four weeks.

    IAs Nos. 306-26 and 328-30

    9. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. With regard to the following 19 industries:

    (i) M/s Gajanan Udyog Sansthan, Badanpur Kotla, Jasrana, Firozabad (S. No. 6)
    (ii) M/s Shankar Ent Udyog, Biltigarh, Firozabad (S. No. 7)
    (iii) M/s Laxmi Brick Field, Aklabad, Hasanpur, Firozabad (S. No. 8)
    (iv) M/s Mahaveer Ent Batta, Ranukhera, Shikohabad, Firozabad (S. No. 9)
    (v) M/s Yadav Ent Bhatta Udyog, Aklabad, Hasanpur, Firozabad (S. No. 10)
    (vi) M/s Ram Sahai Gramodhyog Seva Sansthan, Gonch, Firozabad (S. No. 12)
    (vii) M/s Chemeli Ent Udyog, Hathawant, Jasrana, Firozabad (S. No. 13)
    (viii) M/s Bajrang Brick Field, Ummargarh Imalia, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 14)
    (ix) M/s Maa Kela Deve Brick Field, Dilokhara, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 15)
    (x) M/s Ram Niwas Hrydesh Kumar, BKO Mushair, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 16)
    (xi) M/s Bansal & Co. Arabgarh, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 17)
    (xii) M/s Yadav Ent Udyog Mazra Jat, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 18)
    (xiii) M/s Satyamev Brick Field, Sikrari Lalpur, Etah (S. No. 19)
    (xiv) M/s Rameshchandra Maheshchandra Bhatta Ent, Arabgarh, Firozabad Road, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 20)
    (xv) M/s Radha Krishan Brick Field, Nagla Mitin, Dilokhara, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 21)
    (xvi) M/s Bhagwan Ent Udyog, Bichpuri, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 22)
    (xvii) M/s Vijay Brick Field, Isoli, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 23)
    (xviii) M/s Jai Shiv Brick Field, Bara Bhondela, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 24)
    (xix) M/s Krishna Brick Field (old name M/s Shashi Ent Udyog) Kushrai, Jalesar, Etah (S. No. 25)

    the applicant industries are permitted to operate their brick kilns after complying with the recommendations made by the Joint Inspection Committee in para 6. In any case if the applicants start to operate brick kilns and subsequently if it is found that there is non-compliance with the recommendations then their licences to run brick kiln would be cancelled.

    10. Adjourned for four weeks.

    IAs Nos. 332-35 and 337-43

    11. With regard to these IAs the Joint Inspection Committee to submit its report within three weeks.

    IAs Nos. 120-23, 134-36 and 139-41

    12. Heard the learned counsel for the applicants. It has been pointed out in the affidavit that the applicant industries are located in no-gas-zone area and, therefore, gas cannot be supplied to the applicant industries. It is also pointed out that if the applicants shift their industries in a gas-zone area, gas would be immediately supplied. In this view of the matter, these applications are rejected.

    Agra Heritage Fund matter

    13. Taken on board. List after two weeks.

    14. Remaining matters on board adjourned for four weeks.

    Court Masters

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    Comments

    M.C Mehta v. Union Of India And Others
    (Mar 19, 2002)