Supreme Court Constitutes High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee; Modifies Stay to Revive NGT’s Directions on Jojari–Bandi–Luni Pollution
Case Name: In Re: 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan (Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 8 of 2025)
Citation: 2025 INSC 1341
Date of Judgment/Order: 21 November 2025
Bench: Vikram Nath, J.; Sandeep Mehta, J.
Held: The Supreme Court held that the prolonged contamination of the Jojari–Bandi–Luni river system constitutes a direct violation of Article 21, representing a systemic constitutional injury arising from decades of unchecked industrial effluents, untreated municipal sewage and regulatory apathy. Finding that the interim stay imposed earlier on the National Green Tribunal’s 25 February 2022 order had been misconstrued as a licence for inaction, the Court modified the stay to revive all substantive remedial and regulatory directions of the NGT while continuing the stay only on adverse remarks and compensation imposed on RIICO and other authorities. Recognising the magnitude and complexity of environmental harm, the Court constituted a High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee led by Justice Sangeet Lodha (Retd.) to supervise pollution control, mapping of discharge points, treatment-capacity augmentation, effluent monitoring, audits of STPs/CETPs, enforcement of polluter-pays and formulation of a comprehensive river rejuvenation blueprint.
Summary: Acting on a documentary exposing severe contamination affecting nearly two million residents across western Rajasthan, the Court took suo motu cognizance in September 2025, examining interconnected pollution of the Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers. The record revealed persistent and large-scale discharge of untreated industrial waste and sewage over two decades, despite repeated interventions by the High Court, NGT and statutory authorities. The NGT had earlier issued a detailed remedial roadmap based on Justice P.C. Tatia Committee’s findings, but progress stalled due to an interim stay. Reviewing the State’s comprehensive status report, the Court noted belated enforcement actions, widespread illegal industries, underutilised and insufficient CETP/STP capacities, and decades of administrative inertia. Reiterating settled constitutional jurisprudence on environmental rights embedded in Article 21, the Court emphasised the State’s obligation under Articles 47, 48A and 51A(g) to protect health and ecology. It found that unchecked degradation had caused extensive harm to agriculture, livestock, groundwater, ecology and public health, necessitating sustained judicial oversight and scientifically grounded intervention.
Decision: The Supreme Court modified and lifted the interim stay on the NGT’s 25 February 2022 order, except as to adverse remarks and compensation imposed on RIICO and other authorities. It directed immediate implementation of all substantive NGT directions and constituted the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee comprising judicial, technical, administrative and pollution-control experts. The Committee was empowered to supervise discharge mapping, audits, real-time monitoring, infrastructural upgrades, enforcement of polluter-pays liability, and implementation of all scientific action plans from IIT Jodhpur, MNIT Jaipur, MBM and BITS Pilani. The State was directed to provide full administrative, financial and logistical support, including dedicated staff and honoraria, and to ensure compliance on pain of personal accountability. The Committee must submit its first report in eight weeks, with ongoing supervision by the Court. All matters were listed for further monitoring on 27 February 2026.