P.Ram Mohan Rao v. Ministry Of Environment,Forest And Climate

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK

WP(C) (PIL) No. 24790 of 2020 ....

Petitioner P. Ram Mohan Rao, Jharsuguda Mr. Laxmi Narayan Patel, Advocate -versusUnion of India & Others ....

Opp. Parties

CORAM:

JUSTICE JASWANT SINGH JUSTICE M. S. SAHOO Order No.

ORDER (Oral) 10.01.2022 03.

1. Though this matter was not in today's list, on being mentioned, the same was taken up.

2. This matter is taken up through virtual mode.

3. The present writ petition in the nature of Public Interest Litigation (in short 'the PIL') has been filed by the Petitioner, who is an Ex-Councillor of Jharsuguda Municipality, claiming to be an environmental activist, against the proposed expansion of Aluminium Smelter Plant of Vedanta Limited from 16 LTPA to 18 LTPA at Bhurkamunda under Jharsuguda District.

4. At the outset, counsel for the Petitioner states that the present writ petition has become infructuous as the impugned public hearing to be conducted by the Pollution Control Board, has since been held on 30.10.2020. Withdrawal Memo dated 10.01.2022 has

// 2 // been filed for withdrawing the writ petition, which be kept on record.

5. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of as withdrawn.

6. Thus, it is clear that there is no legal impediment for the competent authority, to proceed in accordance with law.

7. As the restrictions due to resurgence of COVID-19 situation are continuing, learned counsel for the parties may utilize a printout of the order available in the High Court's website, at par with certified copy, subject to attestation by the concerned advocate, in the manner prescribed vide Court's Notice No. 4587, dated 25th March, 2020, modified by Notice No. 4798, dated 15th April 2021, and Court's Office Order circulated vide Memo No. 514 and 515 dated 7th January, 2022. (Jaswant Singh) Judge (M. S. Sahoo) Judge January 10th 2022 Cuttack AKPradhan