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Judgment
This original application is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item title "4 killed in blast at drug manufacturing unit in Telangana" appearing in ‘The Hindu’ dated 04.04.2024.
The news item relates to a blast at a drug manufacturing unit in Hatnoora Mandal, Medak District, Telangana resulting in death of 4 persons and injury to 21. As per the news item, the blast had taken place in a chemical reactor inside SB Organics Limited, a bulk drug manufacturing company. The news item also states that the officials have feared that the death toll is likely to go up. As per the news report, officials from the Fire Department have disclosed that the fire was chemical in nature and was triggered by the explosion.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms.
Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.
The news item does not disclose that any steps have been taken for payment of compensation to the deceased and injured persons as also the details relating to compliance of requisite environmental norms by the project proponent in question.
Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:
(1). Member Secretary, Telangana State Pollution Control Board.
(2). District Magistrate, Medak.
(3). SB Organics Limited, Hatnoora Mandal, Medak District, Telangana through its Administrative Head.
Let notice be issued to the above respondents for filing their response before the appropriate Bench of the Tribunal atleast one week before the next date of hearing.
Since the subject matter relates to the Southern Zonal Bench, therefore, OA is transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai for appropriate further action. Office is directed to transfer the original record of the OA to Southern Zonal Bench.
List before Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai on 14.05.2024.