News item titled "6 Killed 1 Injured in Chemical Factory Fire Near Jaipur" appearing in News 18 dated 23.03.2024 Vs

This original application is registered suo moto on the basis of the news item titled "6 Killed 1 injured in Chemical Factory Fire near Jaipur" appearing in News 18 dated 23.03.2024.

New items relates to a fire break out in a chemical factory near Jaipur, Rajasthan that resulted in death of six people and injury to one. As per the news item, fire started late in the evening after the explosion in a boiler of the factory in the District Bassi area. News item does not disclose any steps taken by the authorities for payment of compensation to family members of the deceased persons or to the injured.

Learned Counsel appearing for Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) submitted that he has received instructions only yesterday and he will be filing the report. RSPCB will ascertain the extent of violation of environmental norms, if any, by the industry in question which has resulted in such an accident and death of six persons.

Original application raises substantial issue relating to compliance of environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.

Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power 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.

Hence,  we implead the  following as respondents:-

(i) State Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary;

(ii) Collector/District Magistrate, Jaipur;

(iii) M/s. Shalimar Seal & Tar Products (P) Ltd., Village Banera, Shantipur, Tehsil, Bassi, District, Jaipur, through its Director.

Learned Counsel for respondent no.1(RSPCB) seeks three weeks time to file the report.

Let  notice  be  issued  to respondent  nos.  2  and  3 for  filing  the response before the appropriate Bench of the Tribunal.

Since the matter relates to Central Zonal Bench of the Tribunal, therefore, it is transferred to the Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal.

Let original record of the original application be transferred to the Central Zonal Bench.

List before the Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal on 30.05.2024.