(Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, JJ.)
Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No(s). 8 of 2025, decided on November 21, 2025
In Re: 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan
With
Civil Appeal No(s). 5517-5519 of 2022
Civil Appeal No(s). 8748 of 2022
Civil Appeal No(s). 9057-9058 of 2022
Civil Appeal No(s). 9010-9011 of 2022
Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No(s). 8 of 2025; Civil Appeal No(s). 5517-5519 of 2022; Civil Appeal No(s). 8748 of 2022; Civil Appeal No(s). 9057-9058 of 2022; and Civil Appeal No(s). 9010-9011 of 2022§
The Order of the Court was delivered by
Mehta, J.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction …………………………………………………… 2
II. Overview of the Suo Moto Proceedings and the Orders passed by this Court …………………………………… 4
III. Status Report Filed by the State of Rajasthan …. 16
IV. Assessment of the State’s Submissions and Identified Deficiencies …………………………………………. 27
V. Constitutional Framework: Right to Life and Right to a Healthy Environment ……………………………………. 30
VI. Environmental Degradation of the river system: Findings and Impact …………………………………………… 38
VII. Modification/Clarification of Interim Stay on the National Green Tribunal’s Order: Legal and Environmental Necessity ……………………………………… 42
VIII. Constitution of the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee …………………………………………… 45
IX. Terms of Reference and Powers of the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee ……………………………. 48
X. Administrative and Logistical Arrangements for the Committee ……………………………………………………. 58
XI. Operative Directions ……………………………………. 61
I. Introduction
1. The present proceedings involve issues of grave concern and disastrous consequences, as a fallout of apathy at all levels which has virtually put the lives of 2 million people, animals and ecosystem of three important rivers in western Rajasthan at peril. These rivers are ‘Jojari’ which passes through Jodhpur, the second largest city of Rajasthan; ‘Bandi’ which passes through city Pali; and ‘Luni’ which passes through Balotra with the latter two being hubs of dyeing printing industry. Rivers ‘Bandi’ and ‘Jojari’ merge into river ‘Luni’ somewhere near Balotra city.1
2. This Court has, over the years, been called upon to examine innumerable issues pertaining to environmental degradation, but the factual matrix of this case stands out for the duration, extent, and magnitude of the harm inflicted. What emerges from the record is not an isolated incident nor an accidental oversight, but a sustained, systemic collapse of regulatory vigilance and utter administrative apathy stretching over nearly two decades.
3. The pollution of the aforementioned riverine ecosystem, represent an assault not merely on natural watercourses but on the constitutional guarantees that animate and sustain the Indian Republic, i.e., the right to life, dignity, health, safe drinking water, ecological balance, equality, and the right of future generations to inherit an environment capable of sustaining life. When environmental degradation reaches such gargantuan proportions that it strikes at the foundation of these guarantees, the injury transcends the ecological realm and becomes a direct constitutional injury requiring immediate, comprehensive and effective judicial redress.
II. Overview of the Suo Moto Proceedings and the Orders passed by this Court
4. It is in this backdrop that this Court, by order dated 16th September, 2025, took suo moto cognizance of a news documentary highlighting the grave environmental catastrophe in the Jojari River region. The documentary titled “2 Million Lives at Risk | India’s Deadliest River | Marudhara | Jojari | Rajasthan” exposed alarming levels of industrial pollution, governance failures, and severe public health consequences affecting nearly two million residents across several districts of Rajasthan. The said order recorded the factual background, recognised the gravity of the environmental disaster, and sought response from the State of Rajasthan.
5. Thereafter, when the matter came up for hearing on 9th October, 2025, this Court broadened the horizon and considered the same issue of pollution in rivers Bandi and Luni in addition to Jojari. The Court noted multiple earlier proceedings before the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan and the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi culminating in detailed monitoring committee reports and comprehensive directions issued by the National Green Tribunal vide final order dated 25th February, 2022. This Court further took note of the fact that several statutory appeals arising out of the said order of the National Green Tribunal, namely, Civil Appeal Nos. 5517-5519 of 2022; 8748 of 2022; 9057-9058 of 2022; and 9010-9011 of 2022, were pending before this Court which involved issues intrinsically connected with those being taken up in the present suo moto writ petition. In order dated 9th October, 2025, this Court observed that considering the commonalities of issues required to be dealt with, in the suo moto writ petition and the pending appeals, it would be expedient in the interest of justice, to direct that these pending appeals be tagged and heard together with the suo moto writ petition, while directing that Civil Appeal No. 2901 of 2022 be de-tagged as the issues therein were different. Accordingly, the Registry was directed to place the papers before Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India to seek a direction for analogous hearing of all the above referred matters with the suo moto writ petition. For ready reference, the said order is extracted hereinbelow:—
“1. This suo moto writ petition was registered pursuant to this Court’s order dated 16th September, 2025. By the said order, this Court took suo moto cognizance of a documentary named “2 Million Lives at Risk| India’s Deadliest River | Marudhara | Jojari | Rajasthan” uploaded on the YouTube by a channel named “News Pinch” on 12th September, 2025.
2. We have holistically examined the materials provided to us and have also researched for the orders which may have been passed in relation to the same issue. We have found that for the very same environmental issue, numerous writ petitions were filed in the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Principal Seat at Jodhpur, including Civil Writ Petition Nos. 2844 of 2011 and 9503 of 2012. These writ petitions were ultimately transferred to the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi where they were registered as Original Application Nos. 34(THC) of 2014 and 32(THC) of 2014.
3. The Gram Panchayat, Araba filed Original Application No. 329 of 2015 before the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi in respect of pollution in Jojari river which is the subject matter of the suo moto writ petition.
4. We may note that as per the topography of the area concerned, there are three rivers involved in this environmental disaster. River Luni originates in the Aravali range at Ajmer and flows through districts Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer and then dissipates into the Rann of Kutch. River Bandi is a tributary to river Luni and runs through districts Pali, Jodhpur and Barmer and ultimately joins river Luni. River Jojari flows within the boundaries of district Jodhpur.
5. The Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, in order to resolve the serious issues of pollution in these rivers constituted a Special Task Force in an endeavour to control the industrial pollution created by the textile and steel industries in Jodhpur and the textile industries of Balotra and Pali districts, which are adjoining the Jodhpur District.
6. Vide orders dated 23rd November, 2020 and 7th December, 2020, the Special Task Force was abolished, and 3 separate monitoring committees were created to monitor the pollution created by the industries running in Jodhpur, Pali and Balotra districts. Justice Prakash Chandra Tatia, (former Judge of the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan and former Chief Justice of High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi) was appointed as the Chairperson of these three Committees. The monitoring Committees, identified the following common issues in all the matters:—
• The effluents generated by the textile industries of Jodhpur, Pali, Balotra, Jasol, and Bithuja;
• The effluents generated by the steel Industries at Jodhpur;
• Sewage from Jodhpur, Pali, Balotra;
• Industries are of similar type, i.e., textile industries exist at all three places along with steel industries at Jodhpur. Also, CETP, Jodhpur is common for these industries;
• Industrial and sewage waste, is being discharged in rivers/tributaries Jojari, Bandi and Luni and ultimately effluents are being discharged directly or indirectly into river Luni;
• Affecting three adjacent areas, i.e., Jodhpur, Pali and Barmer District;
• Common preventive measures for all polluters of these three districts.
7. The monitoring committees, in its common interim report dated 20th April, 2021, gave the following suggestions for dealing with the pollution disaster:—
• Relocation of Gandhipura, Balotra industries may be considered by NGT.
• Underutilised CETPs should be fully utilised immediately.
• Effluents at factory outlets must stay within prescribed limits (in terms of both quantity and quality) and SCADA meters with auto-cut to be installed in all CETP member units in Jodhpur, Pali and Balotra to be ensured within next three months.
• Effluents at CETP outlets must also be maintained within prescribed limits, with strict checking by Trusts and Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RPSCB).
• No mixing of CETP treated water with untreated sewage or storm drains; responsibility lies with CETP Trust and municipal bodies.
• Municipal bodies should have strict supervision of all of their respective drains and manholes and must ensure that no effluents/sewage enter drains or manholes. Violations to attract action under Section 133 Code of Criminal Procedure and before RPSCB.
• If municipal bodies mix sewage/stormwater with CETP effluents, CETP Trust must complain to RSPCB for action against erring officer.
• Point Nos. 1-7 shall apply mutatis mutandis to Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and in STPs where chlorination is not provided, municipal corporations must install chlorination plants immediately.
• SPCB has ultimate responsibility to check all defaults referred above, regardless of who is primarily responsible.
• Zero Liquid Discharge Policy (ZLD Policy) applies to all and all the stakeholders, including municipal bodies should be asked to furnish written undertaking by what time they will fully obey this policy and they be directed not to discharge untreated, chemical or dyes or any effluents mixed water in any river so as to take other effluents to hundreds of kilometres.
• Regional Officer, RSPCB must identify all critical discharge points into rivers by 7th May, 2021, collect samples monthly and at any time via surprise checks, and shall keep record readily available for inspections of RSPCB’s higher authorities. Regional Officer, RSPCB shall produce monthly inspection reports before this or any Committee as per direction of NGT. Also, the respective Regional Officer, RSPCB should develop a mechanism to upload the test results of the samples which are collected at these critical points on regular basis at the RSPCB website without any delay so that they are available to public. The monitoring and sharing of test results shall continue till this direction is modified.
• Regional Officer, RSPCB shall take strict action against any industry discharging effluents into public/RIICO drains, rivers, or public places.
• Municipal bodies must submit better sewage
• management plans, uninfluenced by finances.
• Rajasthan Government should take a policy decision to demarcate separate areas for “non-polluting industries” and “polluting industries” for better effluent management.
• Local administration should use Section 133 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 against continuous public nuisance from effluents in congested areas.
• National Green Tribunal may consider whether CETP should be treated as an extension of industry premises since it handles unavoidable external processing.
• All government departments (Industries Department, Revenue Department, PHED, Electricity, SPCB, local bodies, administration) must discharge their legal duties independently during all times uninfluenced by the monitoring done by the Committee; committee only supplements, not supersedes, their functions.
8. The monitoring committees gave its common final report on 22nd July, 2021 stating that its interim report dated 20th April, 2021 shall be read as part and parcel of the final report. In the said final report, the following recommendations were given:—
• SPCB and State must increase cadre strength of SPCB and immediately fill all vacancies.
• Review laws and enforcement, collect data on resumed agricultural lands, cancelled leases/Pattas. If such actions were not taken, State Government may be asked, why authorities failed in enforcing laws and terms of conditions of the leases and Khatedari Rights?
• All Regional Officers must report details of illegally established industries on agricultural land to Tehsildar, Jodhpur Development
• Authority, Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, and Municipal Bodies of Pali and Balotra.
• For future, Regional Officers must promptly report any illegally established industry on agricultural land to Tehsildar, Jodhpur Development Authority, Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, and Municipal Bodies of Pali and Balotra for appropriate legal action.
• All Tehsildars must register cases against persons who are illegally using agricultural land for industries and send case details to Regional Officer, RSPCB without any delay.
• Tehsildars must provide Regional Officer with a copy of the final order passed in such cases immediately.
• In cases where Khatedari rights not cancelled or land in question has not been resumed, Regional Officer must send Tehsildar’s order to Member Secretary, RSPCB, who must examine reasons and, if necessary, advise Collector to challenge within 15 days.
• A Monitoring Committee must oversee the progress of CETP projects, construction of new STPs, sewage lines/nallahs, and storm drainage works to avoid delays, cost escalation, and financial burden.
• Gram Panchayats, along with Revenue Officers and Tehsildars, must prevent pollution and act against industries on agricultural land within their jurisdiction, with accountability fixed for failures.
• Municipal Corporations (Jodhpur, Pali, Balotra), RIICO, and State must prioritize sewage management, maximize water reuse
• after treatment, and ensure proper disposal of non-reusable water for villages like Araba and surrounding areas of about 40 km areas.
9. After receiving the aforesaid final report and hearing the parties, the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi vide final order dated 25th February, 2022 issued the following directions:—
• The recommendations of Monitoring Committee as contained in reports dated 20th April, 2021 and 22nd July, 2021, which is already quoted shall be complied with by the concerned authorities within 6 months.
• RSPCB shall ensure that no untreated, or partly treated pollutant is discharged in water or water bodies or land including rivers in question, which do not comply with the environmental laws and norms and any industry including operators of ETP, STP or CETP shall be closed/sealed, if violation is found to have continued. For the period of non-compliance including post violations, environmental compensation shall be determined by Competent Statutory Regulators, against violators, on the principle of ‘Polluter’s Pay’, after giving show cause notice and opportunity and the said amount of compensation shall also be recovered. This entire exercise shall be completed within 6 months.
• RIICO shall pay environmental compensation of Rs. 2 Crores by depositing the same with the Central Pollution Control Board.
• The local bodies/authorities of District Barmer and Jodhpur each shall pay compensation of Rs. 2 Crores within 15 days with RSPCB and in case steps required to be taken by them for stopping pollution for complying with the directions mentioned above within 6 months are failed, they shall pay further compensation of above amount.
• The Statutory Regulators, in coordination with the concerned District Magistrates shall make a survey of respective areas of districts Jodhpur and Barmer, prepare detailed exhaustive lists of Industrial Proponents who are causing pollution, air and/or water pollution. A regular monitoring shall be observed by a Committee comprising RSPCB, concerned District Magistrates and Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and appropriate remedial action including assessment of compensation as well prosecution shall be taken against the violators.
• Amount of compensation deposited/recovered as directed above, shall be utilised for remediation and restoration of environmental damage. For this purpose, a joint Committee comprising CPCB, RSPCB, CGWA and District Magistrates Barmer and Jodhpur shall finalize plan within two months and execute the same within six months.
• Compliance report by respective bodies/authorities in respect of directions as above, shall be submitted by 30th September, 2022 with Registrar General, NGT. If any further direction is required/needed or found necessary the Registrar General, NGT shall place the matter before the Tribunal.
10. Statutory appeals under Section 22 of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, as per details mentioned below have been filed in this Court against the aforesaid order of National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi wherein different orders have been passed which are quoted hereinbelow for the sake of ready reference:—
I. Civil Appeal Nos. 5517-5519 of 2022: RIICO v. Digvijay Singh [Order dated 29th August, 2022]
“Issue Notice. To be heard along with Civil Appeal No. 2901/2022. There shall be interim stay. List after six weeks.”
II. Civil Appeal No. 8748 of 2022: Municipal Council, Pali v. Kisan Paryavaran Sangharsh Samiti, Jaipur and Civil Appeal Nos. 9057-9058 of 2022: Nagar Nigam, Jodhpur v. Gram Panchayat, Araba [Order dated 21st November, 2022]
“Delay condoned. Issue notice. There shall be interim stay in terms of the order passed in Civil Appeal Nos. 5517-5519 of 2022 on 29.08.2022. Tag with Civil Appeal Nos. 5517-5519 of 2022.”
III. Civil Appeal Nos. 9010-9011 of 2022: Municipal Council, Balotra v. Digvijay Singh [Order dated 28th November, 2022]
“Delay condoned. Issue notice. Tag with Civil Appeal No. 8748 of 2022.”
11. It is pertinent to note that Civil Appeal Nos. 5517-5519 of 2022 were directed to be heard along with Civil Appeal No. 2901 of 2022 vide order dated 29th August, 2022. However, on perusal of records, it is evident that the issues involved in Civil Appeal Nos. 5517-5519 of 2022 and the suo moto writ petition are completely different from the issues involved in Civil Appeal No. 2901 of 2022. Hence, Civil Appeal No. 2901 of 2022 shall be de-tagged and heard separately.
12. Having considered the commonalities of issues which we propose to deal in the suo moto writ petition and the pending appeals, it would be expedient in the interest of justice, to direct that these pending appeals, i.e., Civil Appeal Nos. 5517-5519 of 2022; Civil Appeal No. 8748 of 2022; Civil Appeal Nos. 9057-9058 of 2022; and Civil Appeal Nos. 9010- 9011 of 2022 should be clubbed and heard together with the suo moto writ petition.
13. Accordingly, the Registry is directed to place the papers before Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India for seeking direction of analogous hearing for all the above referred matters with the suo moto writ petition.”
6. On 7th November, 2025, this Court, upon hearing the submissions advanced by Mr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, learned Additional Advocate General for the State of Rajasthan, granted him a weeks’ time to obtain instructions, in particular, as to whether the Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO), Municipal Councils of Pali, Balotra and Jodhpur still wanted to continue with their appeals. Learned Additional Advocate General was further given liberty to file status report indicating the steps taken by the State and its instrumentalities in relation to the environmental concerns raised in the present proceedings. The relevant extract of the said order is reproduced hereinbelow:—
“Mr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, learned Additional Advocate General for the State of Rajasthan, seeks a week’s time to obtain instructions in the matter, in particular, about the fact whether the Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO), Municipal Councils of Pali, Balotra and Jodhpur still want to continue with their appeals.
List the matters again on 17.11.2025.
In the meantime, Mr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, learned AAG, may file status report.”
III. Status Report Filed by the State of Rajasthan
7. Pursuant to the aforesaid order, the State of Rajasthan has placed on record a status report dated 15th November, 2025, filed through the learned Additional Advocate General. The Status Report, accompanied by multiple annexures including minutes of high-level meetings, photographs, compliance communications, and proposed technical action plans, delineating the steps undertaken by various State agencies in response to the environmental crisis as well as the State’s position with respect to the pending appeals. A succinct summary of the salient aspects of the said Status Report is set out hereinbelow:—
• The State of Rajasthan has acknowledged the critical issue of pollution of the river system and has assured of its full compliance with all directions and orders. The State has committed to cooperating fully to resolve the issue in the interest of public welfare.
• The State held discussions with the Municipal Corporations of Jodhpur, Pali, Balotra, and Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO) regarding pending appeals against the National Green Tribunal’s final order dated 25th February, 2022. All appellants agreed to allow the positive directions of the National Green Tribunal to continue without further stay and pledged to work jointly and to assist this Court in resolving the issue.
• The State has requested this Court to expunge remarks made by the National Green Tribunal against RIICO and other authorities/Corporations. Additionally, the State has sought relaxation of the environmental compensation Rs. 2 Crores imposed by the National Green Tribunal, proposing that the liability be recovered from the violating industrial units under the “Polluter Pays” principle. The State also suggests that any compensation or liability determined should be exclusively utilized for pollution abatement and restoration works.
• The State has requested this Court to implead the three Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) located in Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra, which are Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) constituted by the industries and are responsible for the management and operation of the said plants. This inclusion is deemed essential for ensuring effective implementation of this Court’s directions.
• The State has undertaken several urgent measures following this Court taking suo moto cognizance of the issue. Inspection drives in Jodhpur during September-October, 2025 led to the closure of 17 non-compliant industrial units, while similar drives in Balotra on 19th September, 2025-25th September, 2025 resulted in the closure of 5 non-compliant units. Additionally, 17 bypass lines discharging wastewater into stormwater drains in RIICO industrial area, Jodhpur, were removed, and 9 illegal units in Shobhavaton ki Dhani and Salawas were demolished, with machinery sealed in one unit. Joint teams have closed down 77 illegally operating units in Balotra on 15th-16th September, 2025. Efforts were also initiated to clear waterlogging in villages Doli, Araba, and Kalyanpur in Balotra district, and regular inspections are being conducted in Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra to identify and act against defaulters.
• A review meeting chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Rajasthan, was held on 28th August, 2025, to address waterlogging in villages Doli, Araba, and Kalyanpur and prevent discharge of domestic/industrial wastewater into the Jojari River. Key decisions taken during the said meeting are as follows:—
a. RIICO providing details of industries operating in Jodhpur;
b. RIICO to explore the feasibility of establishing CETPs in RIICO industrial areas;
c. RIICO and RUIDP to complete retendering work of laying textile conduit by 30th September, 2025;
d. Mandating the use of treated CETP water by industries;
e. Expediting the establishment of CETP of suitable capacity at Salawas after assessing present technical and capacity requirements;
f. Local Self Government Department to prepare a plan for discharge of treated sewage of STP, Salawas in river Luni;
g. RIICO and Local Self Government Department to initiate efforts for controlling the discharge of untreated city sewage in the river through open drains and to divert untreated city sewage to STPs; and
h. Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) to continue with its action against unauthorized industries discharging untreated wastewater in river Jojari.
• On 3rd November, 2025, RSPCB issued letters to BITS Pilani, MNIT Jaipur, and IIT Jodhpur to conduct performance audits of CETPs in Jodhpur. The audit aims to assess performance efficiency, compliance with discharge standards, adequacy of treatment units, and operational gaps. Institutions are required to submit proposals and conduct audits within 4-6 weeks.
• On 6th November, 2025, RSPCB issued letters to MNIT Jaipur, IIT Jodhpur, and MBM Engineering College, Jodhpur to prepare short-term and long-term action plans for pollution control in rivers Jojari, Luni, and Bandi. Short-term actions include rotational closure plans, completion of conduit lines, installation of analysers and flow meters, SCADA upgrades, and regular inspections. Long-term actions include upgrading CETPs to Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), constructing additional CETPs and STPs, and implementing sustainable water reuse and monitoring systems.
• RSPCB directed CETP Trust to submit a rotational closure/roster plan to regulate effluent discharge within the capacity of the conduit pipeline. Progress on laying new conduit pipelines is being reviewed, with completion expected by 31st March, 2026. Additionally, a Special Task Force (STF) will be constituted within seven days to oversee the execution of current and future plans.
• Current Status of STPs and CETPs:
a. Jodhpur: Estimated sewage generation is 230 Million Litres per Day (MLD), with existing facilities including 2 STPs and 1 oxidation pond (total capacity: 120 MLD). Three STPs with a capacity of 65 MLD are under construction, and two STPs with a capacity of 15 MLD are proposed. Treated and untreated sewage is discharged into River Jojari.
b. Pali: Estimated sewage generation is 32 MLD, with two STPs (total capacity: 22.5 MLD) and a sewage treatment gap of 10 MLD. Treated and untreated sewage is discharged into River Bandi.
c. Balotra: Estimated sewage generation is 12.5 MLD, with one STP (9 MLD capacity). Treated and untreated sewage is discharged into River Luni.
d. CETPs: Jodhpur has 81 steel units and 306 textile units with separate CETPs having capacity of 1.5 MLD and 18.5 MLD respectively but the same are operating below capacity, i.e., at 0.60-0.65 MLD and 10-11 MLD respectively. Pali has 497 textile units and two CETPs having capacity of 12 MLD each but operating at only 5-6 MLD, while Balotra has 955 textile units and three CETPs (total capacity: 54.5 MLD) operating at the capacity of 19 MLD, way below its capacity.
• Expert institutions (MNIT Jaipur, IIT Jodhpur, and MBM Engineering College Jodhpur) have been tasked with formulating a comprehensive plan for river rejuvenation, industrial effluent management, sewage treatment, and ecosystem restoration. Preliminary frameworks are to be submitted within the prescribed time, with final plans presented to be placed before this Court within 6-8 weeks.
IV. Assessment of the State’s Submissions and Identified Deficiencies
8. We are pained to observe that these remedial measures have been triggered by the suo moto cognizance taken by this Court vide order dated 16th September, 2025, whereas the State should have acted spontaneously years ago, for ensuring around the clock compliances which is the constitutional obligation of the State Government and the concerned authorities. While the status report reflects that the State of Rajasthan has, woken up from its slumber subsequent to this Court’s suo moto cognizance, and has undertaken several measures, including closure of non-compliant/illegal industrial units, removal of bypass lines, demolition of unauthorised establishments, initiation of inspections, convening of high-level meetings, commissioning of expert institutions, and proposals for infrastructural augmentation, but at the same time, it is evident that these steps have been taken only as a sequel to this Court’s intervention. While these measures are not insignificant, their timing is deeply telling. The long-standing environmental devastation afflicting the river system and the adjoining areas as a result of decades of continuous, unchecked discharge of industrial effluent and municipal sewage, suggests that sustained regulatory vigilance and timely administrative action were lacking in the preceding years. The belated flurry of administrative activity, triggered solely by fortuitous judicial intervention, underscores a prolonged period of regulatory apathy and institutional neglect. The efforts now set in motion, though welcome, must therefore be viewed as the beginning of a process that requires continued commitment and not as an adequate response in themselves.
9. Furthermore, the status report itself discloses that the installed capacities of the Sewage Treatment Plants and Common Effluent Treatment Plants operating in Jodhpur, Pali and Balotra are grossly inadequate when compared with the volume of sewage and industrial effluents generated on a daily basis, resulting in the inevitable overflow and discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage and effluents into the river system. This mismatch between generation and treatment capacity, persisting for years, is emblematic of a systemic failure to create and maintain environmental mitigation infrastructure commensurate with industrial expansion. The acknowledged deficiencies in capacity, utilisation, maintenance and monitoring only underscore the inadequacy of the current regulatory and supervisory framework and the urgent necessity of a comprehensive, coordinated and scientifically informed intervention. In view of these admitted shortcomings, this Court is of the considered opinion that the existing infrastructure as well as the statutory and regulatory framework falls far short of what is required to arrest continuing ecological degradation and to safeguard the fundamental rights of the affected population.
V. Constitutional Framework: Right to Life and Right to a Healthy Environment
10. In assessing the State’s response to the grave ecological degradation afflicting the river system and the adjoining areas, this Court is constrained to reflect on the deeper constitutional and jurisprudential principles that govern the relationship between the State, the environment, and the citizen. Environmental harm of the present magnitude is not merely a regulatory lapse or administrative shortcoming; it is in gross dereliction of the constitutional promise that the State shall secure conditions of life with dignity, safety and well-being. Polluted rivers, contaminated groundwater, and the resulting impairment of health and livelihood dilute the very substance of the right to life as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, reducing it from a living guarantee into a fragile abstraction. Where environmental injury persists despite statutory frameworks and institutional mechanisms, it becomes necessary to re-anchor the inquiry in the foundational doctrines that this Court has painstakingly developed over several decades. It is in this backdrop that the principles articulated in this Court’s earlier decisions must again be revisited to guide the present exercise.
11. This Court, in Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar2, has held that the right to life under Article 21 necessarily embraces the right to live in a pollution-free environment. The Court observed that a citizen is entitled to invoke Article 32 when environmental degradation threatens the quality of life. This articulation has since remained a foundational principle of environmental jurisprudence in India. Relevant extract of the said judgment is reproduced hereinbelow:—
“7. Article 32 is designed for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights of a citizen by the Apex Court. It provides for an extraordinary procedure to safeguard the Fundamental Rights of a citizen. Right to live is a fundamental right under Art 21 of the Constitution and it includes the right of enjoyment of pollution free water and air for full enjoyment of life. If anything endangers or impairs that quality of life in derogation of laws, a citizen has right to have recourse to Art. 32 of the Constitution for removing the pollution of water or air which may be detrimental to the quality of life. …..”
[Emphasis supplied]
12. A similar exposition was made by this Court in Virender Gaur v. State of Haryana3, wherein this Court recognised the right to a clean and hygienic environment as an indispensable facet of the right to life. The Court further emphasised the constitutional imperative upon State Governments and municipal bodies to safeguard, protect and improve both the natural and man-made environment. In a comprehensive articulation of the State’s constitutional duties, this Court held:
“7. … The State, in particular has duty in that behalf and to shed its extravagant unbridled sovereign power and to forge in its policy to maintain ecological balance and hygienic environment. Article 21 protects right to life as a fundamental right. Enjoyment of life and its attainment including their right to life with human dignity encompasses within its ambit, the protection and preservation of environment, ecological balance free from pollution of air and water, sanitation without which life cannot be enjoyed. Any contra acts or actions would cause environmental pollution. Environmental, ecological, air, water, pollution, etc. should be regarded as amounting to violation of Article 21. Therefore, hygienic environment is an integral facet of right to healthy life and it would be impossible to live with human dignity without a humane and healthy environment. Environmental protection, therefore, has now become a matter of grave concern for human existence. Promoting environmental protection implies maintenance of the environment as a whole comprising the man-made and the natural environment. Therefore, there is a constitutional imperative on the State Government and the municipalities, not only to ensure and safeguard proper environment but also an imperative duty to take adequate measures to promote, protect and improve both the man-made and the natural environment.”
[Emphasis supplied]
13. This Court in M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath4, reiterated that Articles 48A and 51A(g) of the Constitution of India are not abstract constitutional exhortations but must be read harmoniously with Article 21. The Court held that any disturbance of the basic environmental elements that are indispensable to life, such as air, water and soil, strikes at the heart of the right to life itself. Relevant extract of the said judgment is reproduced hereinbelow:—
“8. Apart from the above statutes and the rules made thereunder, Article 48-A of the Constitution provides that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. One of the fundamental duties of every citizen as set out in Article 51-A(g) is to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures. These two articles have to be considered in the light of Article 21 of the Constitution which provides that no person shall be deprived of his life and liberty except in accordance with the procedure established by law. Any disturbance of the basic environment elements, namely air, water and soil, which are necessary for “life”, would be hazardous to “life” within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution.”
[Emphasis supplied]
14. This Court again, in A.P. Pollution Control Board II v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu5, affirmed that the right to a healthy environment forms an integral part of the right to life. The Court recognised environmental rights as part of evolving “third generation” rights, observing that:
“7. Our Supreme Court was one of the first Courts to develop the concept of right to ‘healthy environment’ as part of the right to “life” under Article 21 of our Constitution. [See Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India (1984 (3) SCC 161)]. This principle has now been adopted in various countries today.
8. In today’s emerging jurisprudence, environmental rights which encompass a group of collective rights are described as “third generation” rights. The “first generation” rights are generally political rights such as those found in the International Convention on Civil & Political Rights while “second generation” rights are social and economic rights as found in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. “Right to Healthy Environment”. (See Vol.25) 2000 Columbia Journal of Environmental Law by John Lee P.283, at pp.293-294 fn.29).”
[Emphasis supplied]
15. Taken together, the principles emerging from the foregoing judgments establish beyond doubt that environmental protection is not a matter of administrative choice but a constitutional imperative. This Court has consistently affirmed that the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to a clean, healthy and ecologically balanced environment; that Articles 47 and 48A impose a substantive obligation upon the State to safeguard public health and protect the environment; and that Article 51A(g) casts a corresponding duty upon every citizen to preserve and improve the natural environment. The jurisprudence of this Court articulates a coherent doctrinal framework in which environmental rights are recognised as integral to human dignity and sustainable development. These decisions, read together, leave no room for ambiguity: where environmental degradation threatens life, health and ecological balance, the State must act with urgency, competence and foresight, and constitutional courts are duty-bound to intervene when such obligations are not met. It is in the light of the aforesaid well-established constitutional jurisprudence that this Court must now turn to the persistent and grave contamination of the river system and the adjoining areas of the State of Rajasthan, assess the adequacy of the measures undertaken by the State, and determine the scope of remedial directions necessary to vindicate the constitutional rights of the affected communities and restore the environmental integrity of the entire region.
VI. Environmental Degradation of the river system: Findings and Impact
16. The material placed before this Court leaves no doubt that the contamination of the rivers system has caused profound and multi-dimensional harm to the people, ecology and economy of the region. What were once seasonal rivers sustaining agriculture, wildlife and village life have, over the years, turned into conduits for untreated industrial effluents and municipal sewage. The pollution has permeated soil and groundwater, rendering agricultural lands unproductive, polluting wells and handpumps, and depriving entire communities of access to safe drinking water. Livestock, on which thousands of families depend, has suffered extensive morbidity and mortality. The disappearance of local fauna and the degradation of riverine ecology bear testimony to the scale of environmental injury. These harms are not speculative or remote; they are immediate, continuing and borne daily by residents whose health, livelihoods and dignity have been compromised for nearly two decades.
17. What exacerbates this crisis is the prolonged period of administrative indifference during which pollutants including untreated industrial effluents and municipal sewage continued to be discharged unabated, despite repeated warnings, judicial directives and scientific reports. The Justice P.C. Tatia Committee, constituted earlier in the course of proceedings before the National Green Tribunal, had laid bare the regulatory deficiencies, the systemic non-compliance by CETPs, and the persistent discharge of untreated waste into river channels continues. The salutary remedial recommendations of the Committee did not translate into effective action on the ground. Successive inspections by statutory authorities recorded the same deficiencies year after year, revealing a cycle in which violations were noted but not rectified.
18. It is our firm opinion that, with due deference to the stay granted by this Court, the State Government could have continued with the process of checking the flow of untreated effluents into the river system. If at all there was any genuine grievance of RIICO or the concerned authorities, they should have made an effort to seek modification or clarification of the order. However, utter apathy prevailed, and the stay granted by this Court was used as an excuse to sit idle and allow the devastation to continue unabated. It is only after this Court initiated suo moto proceedings in September, 2025 that the State machinery has woken up and claims to have initiated some enforcement measures. The protracted inaction that preceded these steps has allowed the pollution to deepen and spread, thereby aggravating the harm to millions of citizens. We find that the efforts so initiated touch only the tip of the iceberg.
19. In the face of such entrenched environmental degradation, delay is not merely undesirable; it is carcinogenic and catastrophic. The river system in its present state continues to threaten public health, undermine agricultural sustenance, and contaminate natural resources that form the backbone of ecology and life in the region. Environmental injury of this magnitude cannot be reversed by knee jerk reactions, incremental compliances or symbolic enforcement. It requires a coordinated and scientifically informed response grounded in the precautionary principle, sustainable development and the inter-generational equity doctrine, i.e., the principles which have consistently guided this Court’s environmental jurisprudence. Immediate action is not only warranted but constitutionally mandated, as each passing day without effective intervention risks further irreparable harm to the environment and to the people whose lives are intertwined with it.
VII. Modification/Clarification of Interim Stay on the National Green Tribunal’s Order: Legal and Environmental Necessity
20. It is in this context that the continuance of the interim stay on the National Green Tribunal’s final order dated 25th February, 2022 becomes untenable. The National Green Tribunal’s order was passed after an extensive fact-finding exercise and in furtherance of the detailed recommendations of the Justice P.C. Tatia Committee, which had identified the precise regulatory failures and technical shortcomings requiring redress. The stay on the National Green Tribunal’s directions has, in effect, has been misinterpreted to freeze the implementation of the remedial framework designed to arrest ongoing pollution and rehabilitate the river system. The setback of several years during which the effluents continued to pollute the environment may well be irreversible. Allowing the stay to persist would defeat the very purpose of the statutory mechanism under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010; the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and would undermine the detailed fact-finding efforts, and perpetuate the illegality that has caused widespread harm. In these circumstances, modification/clarification of order granting stay is not only called for but also imminently essential to facilitate implementation of the remedial measures already devised and to ensure that the constitutional rights of the affected population are protected without further delay.
21. Furthermore, the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the State of Rajasthan has fairly submitted that RIICO and the other concerned authorities/Corporations have no objection to the vacation of the interim stay, provided that the stay continues to operate in respect of the remarks made against them and the direction imposing environmental compensation. Accordingly, the stay operating on the National Green Tribunal’s final order dated 25th February, 2022 is modified and clarified insofar as it tends to restrain the implementation of the substantive remedial and regulatory directions issued by the Tribunal. However, the interim stay shall continue to operate only in respect of the remarks made against RIICO and the other authorities/Corporations, and in respect of the direction imposing environmental compensation of Rs. 2 Crores upon them. These issues shall remain under consideration and will be examined at an appropriate stage, having due regard to the future actions, conduct and compliance demonstrated by the said authorities/Corporations.
VIII. Constitution of the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee
22. With the stay on the National Green Tribunal’s final order now modified and clarified and the remedial framework envisaged therein revived for implementation, it becomes necessary to ensure that such measures are carried out in a coherent, sustained and scientifically supervised manner. Hence, in view of the long-standing environmental degradation, the prolonged administrative inaction and the urgent need for a coordinated, scientifically informed and accountable institutional mechanism enabling this Court to oversee the restoration of the river system, it is our considered opinion that a dedicated fact-finding, monitoring and implementation body must now be constituted. Accordingly, to detect the fundamental maladies in the system, to supervise the remedial measures required to arrest further pollution and to give long term suggestions for reversal of the damage already caused, we deem it appropriate to constitute a High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee, consisting of the following:—
• Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sangeet Lodha, Hon’ble (Retd.) Judge of High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan as Chairperson;
• Shri Pankaj Sharma, Advocate, High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan to assist the Chairperson;
• Technical Expert of repute in the fields of water management, pollution control and/or environmental engineering to be identified and appointed by the Chairperson;
• Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Rajasthan;
• Joint Secretary, Urban Development and Housing Department, Government of Rajasthan;
• Joint Secretary, Local Self Government Department, Government of Rajasthan;
• Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board or his/her nominee;
• Member Secretary, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) or his/her nominee;
• Managing Director, Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO);
• Director, Rajasthan Urban Infrastructure Development Project (RUIDP); and
• District Collector of Jodhpur, Pali and Balotra.
The constitution of this Committee is necessitated by the scale of the harm, the complexity of the remedial actions required, and the imperative of ensuring sustained institutional oversight so that the directions of the National Green Tribunal, as well as those of this Court, are implemented in both letter and spirit.
IX. Terms of Reference and Powers of the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee
23. In formulating the mandate of the Committee, this Court has taken note of the status report filed by the State of Rajasthan, which discloses that several premier educational institutions, such as IIT Jodhpur, MNIT Jaipur and MBM Engineering College, Jodhpur, have been engaged to prepare short-term and long-term action plans for river rejuvenation, industrial effluent management, sewage treatment and ecological restoration. In order to avoid duplication of efforts and to ensure that the scientific and technical recommendations generated by these institutions translate into effective and actionable outcomes, it is directed that all such short-term and long-term plans, proposals, feasibility assessments and technical frameworks shall be submitted directly to the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee, which shall examine their practicality, financial viability and environmental efficacy. The Committee shall thereafter formulate implementation strategies, set timelines and supervise the execution of all measures recommended therein.
24. The High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee shall operate with the following broad Terms of Reference:—
A. The Committee shall oversee and ensure full, faithful and time-bound implementation of the directions contained in the National Green Tribunal’s final order dated 25th February, 2022, including those issued based on the recommendations of the Justice P.C. Tatia Committee.
B. The Committee shall prepare a scientifically grounded, time-bound River Restoration and Rejuvenation Blueprint for the river system that includes Rivers Jojari, Luni and Bandi and formulate a comprehensive plan for its execution in coordination with the State Government and concerned authorities/agencies. This plan shall incorporate scientific, technical and administrative measures for remediation of contaminated topsoil, rejuvenation of groundwater aquifers, restoration of river ecology, revival of flora and fauna, prevention of future contamination, and long-term environmental monitoring.
C. In order to accurately map the sources of pollution, the Committee may conduct a comprehensive on ground survey of every discharge point, pipeline, drain, channel or outlet that leads into the Jojari, Bandi or Luni rivers or any of their tributaries. The Committee shall identify all legal and illegal discharge points, determine the nature of effluents released through each of them, and ascertain whether such discharges comply with statutory standards. The Committee shall also verify that all member units connected to CETPs have installed and are continuously operating Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) meters equipped with automatic cutoff mechanisms, and that the data generated by these meters is being regularly monitored by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) and the CETP Trusts. It shall further ensure that treated effluents from CETPs are not mixed with untreated sewage or stormwater at any stage and that municipal bodies take necessary steps to prevent any such mixing. The Committee shall place before this Court a detailed report of its findings and the recommendations regarding the remedial measures required to be undertaken in this regard.
D. The Committee may, with the assistance of suitable expert bodies, examine the feasibility of making all existing SCADA meters fully online and integrated into a common monitoring dashboard to enable effective and continuous oversight and real time data monitoring of discharge of industrial effluents. The Committee shall also assess the feasibility of installing SCADA meters, or any other compatible monitoring devices, at all Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) so that the quantity and quality of effluent discharged from such plants can be monitored on a real-time basis. The Committee shall place its recommendations on these aspects before this Court.
E. The Committee may schedule and conduct audits including surprise checks of the CETPs, STPs, oxidation ponds, drainage systems, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) units and industrial primary treatment plants at appropriate intervals. The Committee shall specify compliance benchmarks and ensure that non-compliance is addressed promptly.
F. The performance audits of Common Effluents Treatment Plants (CETPs) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) undertaken by educational institutions engaged by the State of Rajasthan shall be submitted to the Committee, which shall examine the findings, direct remedial measures and ensure that deficiencies identified in the audits are rectified without delay.
G. All action plans, technical reports, feasibility studies and remedial proposals prepared by IIT Jodhpur, MNIT Jaipur, MBM Engineering College, BITS Pilani or any other institution engaged by the State shall be placed before the Committee. The Committee shall evaluate the scientific soundness, feasibility and environmental efficacy of each recommendation and give its suggestions on their implementation.
H. The Committee shall assess the existing treatment capacity vis-à-vis actual industrial and municipal discharge and prepare a time-bound infrastructural augmentation plan. This may include, wherever necessary, the installation of new CETPs or STPs, enhancement of existing capacity, creation of additional conveyance pipelines, adoption of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technologies, and establishment of integrated waste management systems.
I. The Committee shall identify officials, authorities or industries/industrial units responsible for non-compliance or dereliction of their obligations. Upon identification of such individuals and/or industries/industrial units, the Committee shall recommend appropriate disciplinary action, prosecution under applicable statutes, and/or recovery of environmental compensation, as the facts may justify. It shall ensure that the principle of “Polluter Pays” is applied effectively and that no violator is permitted to escape liability.
J. The Committee shall ensure that RSPCB publishes quarterly water quality data and that periodic engagement is undertaken with affected Gram Panchayats and local communities to integrate ground-level feedback into enforcement mechanisms. It shall prepare recommendations based on local grievances, field observations and stakeholder inputs to ensure that remedial measures address the lived realities of affected populations.
K. The Committee shall have full authority to call for records, issue directions to State and local bodies, seek technical assistance from national institutions including but not limited to National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CISR-NEERI) and ensure strict implementation of all environmental safeguards.
L. The Committee shall also be at liberty to examine and address all such matters as may be incidental, ancillary or consequential to the aforesaid Terms of Reference. This shall include any issue which, in the considered view of the Committee, bears a nexus with the prevention of pollution, restoration of the river ecosystem, augmentation of treatment infrastructure, or enforcement of environmental norms. The Committee shall have full authority to take such steps as are reasonably necessary to secure the objectives of the directions issued by this Court and to ensure that the environmental and constitutional rights of the affected communities are effectively safeguarded.
X. Administrative and Logistical Arrangements for the Committee
25. The Committee shall be provided with all necessary secretarial, technical and administrative support to ensure the effective discharge of its mandate. For this purpose, at the initial stage, the State of Rajasthan shall make available services of one Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS) Officer to act as Registrar and the Nodal Officer of the Committee, one Personal Assistant (PA), one Lower Division Clerk, one Law Clerk and two Class IV employees to be assigned at the discretion of the Hon’ble Chairperson. The Committee may conduct its proceedings at Jodhpur or at any other location deemed appropriate by the Chairperson, and the State Government shall ensure that suitable arrangements for its sittings are made forthwith. The Committee shall be free to evolve its own modalities and procedure for the conduct of its business. The State Government shall provide a fully furnished and well-equipped office space, preferably within the Circuit House, Jodhpur, or at any other location specified by the Chairperson and the same shall be equipped with video-conferencing facilities and such additional infrastructure as may be required. All logistical arrangements necessary for the functioning of the Committee shall be completed on or before 9th December, 2025.
26. The State Government shall bear all financial and logistical requirements of the Committee, including the payment of honorarium and operational expenses. The Chairperson shall be entitled to an honorarium of Rs. 5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakhs Only) per month, and the lawyer assisting the Committee shall be paid honorarium of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh Only) per month. The Chairperson shall also be entitled to travel allowances equivalent to those admissible to a sitting Judge of the High Court for the purposes of Committee meetings and site visits. The lawyer assisting the Committee shall be paid travelling allowance of Rs. 10,000/- per visit (for inspection). The State Government and the police administration shall provide full security to the Chairperson throughout the duration of the Committee’s mandate, including during field inspections. Adequate security measures shall also be put in place for the field visits of the Committee. Expenditure incurred towards the functioning of the Committee including the payment of honorarium, professional expenses, operational expenses and any other ancillary expenses shall be recoverable from the concerned erring officials or departments, and from the industries or industrial units found to be responsible for violations leading to pollution of the river system.
XI. Operative Directions
27. The directions that follow are a concise distillation of the conclusions reached in the foregoing sections of this order. They are being issued to give concrete effect to the principles, findings, and obligations already discussed, and to ensure that the necessary corrective measures are implemented without delay.
A. The interim stay previously operating on the National Green Tribunal’s final order dated 25th February, 2022 shall stand modified, clarified and lifted, save and except in respect of (i) the remarks made against RIICO and other authorities/Corporations, and (ii) the direction imposing environmental compensation of Rs. 2 Crores upon them.
B. The substantive remedial, regulatory and preventive directions contained in the National Green Tribunal’s order dated 25th February, 2022 shall now be implemented in full, without impediment.
C. The High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee constituted as stated hereinabove shall commence its functioning at the earliest.
D. The Committee shall prepare a comprehensive, time-bound River Restoration and Rejuvenation Blueprint for the entire river system that includes Rivers Jojari, Luni and Bandi and ensure its phased implementation.
E. The Committee shall undertake a comprehensive mapping of all legal and illegal discharge points into the Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers and shall place before this Court its recommendations and findings in that regard by way of interim reports/detailed final reports.
F. The Committee shall conduct recurring audits of all treatment and monitoring infrastructure at intervals not exceeding three months and shall provide recommendations specifying compliance benchmarks and remedial measures required. The concerned authorities shall ensure strict adherence to such recommendations.
G. All plans, audits, technical assessments, short-term and long-term strategies prepared by IIT Jodhpur, MNIT Jaipur, MBM Engineering College Jodhpur, BITS Pilani, or any other institution engaged by the State of Rajasthan, shall be submitted directly to the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee.
H. All performance audits of CETPs, STPs, oxidation ponds, conveyance pipelines, and industrial primary treatment facilities shall be submitted before the Committee. The concerned authorities shall implement the directions issued by the Committee on the basis of such audits without delay.
I. All State authorities, including RIICO, RSPCB, municipal bodies, local bodies, and district administrations as well as the industrial units individually and the industrial associations, shall extend full cooperation and support to the Committee. Any failure to do so shall invite action, including personal accountability before this Court.
J. The High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee shall submit its first status report to this Court within eight weeks from today and thereafter every eight weeks until further orders.
28. The directions issued hereinabove are not merely administrative but arise from the constitutional duty of this Court to safeguard the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which has been consistently interpreted to include the right to clean water, unpolluted air, a healthy environment and conditions conducive to human dignity. The continuing contamination of the river system and the adjoining areas, poses a direct and serious threat to these constitutionally protected rights of millions of residents in the region. It is therefore imperative that the remedial framework devised by the National Green Tribunal, strengthened by the oversight mechanism established through this judgment, is implemented with urgency, fidelity and resolve. The State and all concerned authorities shall act with the seriousness that the constitutional guarantee of life and health demands, ensuring that the environmental integrity of the region is restored and protected for present and future generations.
29. The learned Additional Advocate General for the State of Rajasthan shall communicate the copy of this order to all the concerned authorities/Corporations. The Registry shall also communicate the copy of this order to the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sangeet Lodha, Hon’ble (Retd.) Judge of High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan on his email address: j.sangeetlodha@gmail.com.
30. List on 27th February, 2026 for receiving the first status report of the High-Level Oversight Committee.
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1 Hereinafter referred to as the ‘river system’.
2 (1991) 1 SCC 598.
3 (1995) 2 SCC 577.
4 (2000) 6 SCC 213.
5 (2001) 2 SCC 62.
§ 2025 INSC 1341
