The Delhi High Court Monday dismissed an appeal by the Haryana State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (HSEIAA) against an order restraining it from "prosecuting" carmaker Maruti Suzuki for not having prior environment clearance (EC) for its unit in Rohtak.
On May 26, the High Court had restrained HSEIAA from initiating any criminal action against the company after it undertook to apply and obtain the clearances for all three of its units at Rohtak, Gurgaon and Manesar in Haryana.
The court had directed Haryana government to consider the company's applications. However, HSEIAA challenged the order on the ground that there was no legal provision for grant of environmental clearance with retrospective effect.
While rejecting HSEIAA's plea, the HC observed that the Haryana government had in a meeting held on July 2, 2010 taken a decision not to launch prosecution against violator of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act. It said the matter was being pursued "to satisfy the ego of some officers".
