Supreme Court Asks Punjab Kesari To Approach NGT For Reliefs After Alleged Violation Of Environment Norms; Extends Interim Protection
The Court has also asked the NGT to constitute an expert team to visit the site where officers of the State Pollution Control Board may also be associated.
The Supreme Court, today, has asked Punjab Kesari to approach the National Green Tribunal on the issue related to the alleged violation of environmental norms.
Two special leave petitions were filed against the judgment dated January 23, 2026, passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, whereby the Petitioners have been relegated to avail the alternative remedies either under the statute itself or to approach the National Green Tribunal under Section 33B (c) of the Water Act.
The Bench Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered, "In our considered opinion, there is no need to interfere with the Order of the High Court to the extent of relegating the Petitioners to avail the alternative remedies. However, the following clarificatory directions, in the particular facts and circumstances of this case, are necessitated. i) The Petitioners may approach the National Green Tribunal, if so advised, at the earliest, along with an application for interim directions; ii) In view of the categorical stand taken on behalf of the Petitioners that the hotel has already complied with all the norms, including the STPs, etc., the Petitioners may request the National Green Tribunal to constitute an expert team to visit the site where officers of the State Pollution Control Board may also be associated."
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared on behalf of the Petitioners, while Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi and AAG Shadan Farasat appeared for the Respondents.
The Court also ordered, "The joint inspection report and/or the separate reports that may be submitted by the State Pollution Control Board and the expert committee constituted by NGT, the Tribunal may consider the prayer for an interim direction. It is now clarified that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of such a prayer. Further orders are passed by the NGT, the hotel shall remain non-functional. However, the directions issued by us on the wide order date 20th January 2026 with respect to allowing the printing press for the publication of newspaper Punjab Kesari to function uninterruptedly, shall continue in force and thus the newspaper shall be allowed to be published uninterruptedly without causing any impediment till the matter is decided by the NGT subject to the final order that has been passed by the NGT."
Previously, on January 20, 2026, the Court directed the State of Punjab to refrain from taking any coercive measures against the publication of the Punjab Kesari newspaper. This protection comes as the management awaits a judgment from the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the legality of the State’s recent actions against the media house. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi made an urgent oral mentioning before the bench, seeking immediate relief after the Punjab and Haryana High Court had reserved its judgment yesterday, but declined to grant interim protection against the forced closure of the publication’s printing press and an associated hotel.
Cause Title: Jagat Vijay Printers LLP & Anr. v. State of Punjab & Ors. [Diary No. 3871/2026]