SC directs NGT to hear the petition against EC to Vedanta Company .

By Bijay Mishra
Bhubaneswar, 26.08.2023

The Supreme Court of India in a Civil appeal No 9216/2022 directed NGT to hear the petition against Environmental Clearance to expansion of Vedanta smelter project in Jharsuguda . 

The petitioner , Social Activist Mr Satyanarayan Rao  had appealed in the NGT against granting of EC , which was subsequently dismissed  for condonation of delay. However the SC over ruled the time bar and directed the  NGT to hear the petition filed by Satyanarayan Rao. 

The Environment Clearance was granted on 05.05.2022. The appellant  Mr Rao did not have the copy of the said order granting EC to respondent No. 2 – M/s Vedanata Limited which he had obtained after moving an application under the Right to Information Act, 2005. Thereafter, the appellant   Mr Rao had engaged advocate(s) for preparing the appeal and filling it in delay . In view the facts and circumstances of the case,  the SC observed that,  the appellant, who is an individual, had faced difficulty in procuring information and details including the certified copy of the order granting EC. After procuring the documents, he had taken professional help to file an appeal which lead to late filling of appeal in the NGT . In view of this , the SC ordered that “the delay in the filing of the appeal before the NGT condoned”.