Overview
- Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry dismissed Hind Samachar Ltd.’s writ against the PPCB’s closure and electricity disconnection at Park Plaza in Jalandhar.
- The court held the petition was not maintainable and said the proper forum to contest the action is the National Green Tribunal under the Water Act.
- Status quo for the hotel and other commercial establishments was continued for one week, until January 30, to allow the petitioners to seek remedies.
- PPCB’s January 13 inspection found the sewage and effluent treatment systems non-operational with untreated wastewater bypassed into the municipal sewer, plus hazardous‑waste and record‑keeping violations, and samples were sent for testing.
- The bench declined any relief on the already disconnected power supply, leaving the regulatory closure in place pending proceedings before the NGT.