Panditrao Mines And Minerals Private Limited Thr Its Managing Director v. The Government Of India Minisry Of Environment And ANR

3-WP 13964-24.DOC PRAJAKTA SAGAR VARTAK PRAJAKTA SAGAR VARTAK Date: 2025.02.26 17:23:04 +0530 Prajakta Vartak

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 13964 OF 2024 Panditrao Mines and Minerals Pvt. Ltd.

...Petitioner

Vs.

The Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change & Anr.

...Respondents

_________ Mr. Abhijit Desai i/b. Mr. Satish Kunkekar for the Petitioner. Mr. Pratik Irpatgire i/b. Mr. Parag Vyas for UOI/Respondent Nos.1 & 2. __________

CORAM:

G. S. KULKARNI & ADVAIT M. SETHNA, JJ.

DATE:

26 FEBRUARY 2025 P.C.

1.

By our order dated 05 February 2025 we had directed the authority issuing the show cause notices to grant a personal hearing to the petitioner on the show cause notices. The date of personal hearing was to be fixed and informed to the petitioner within five days from the date of the said order. The authority was further directed that the orders to be passed on the show cause notices and the same be placed on record of this Court on the adjourned date of hearing. In this view of the matter, we had adjourned the proceedings for a longer period i.e. till today. However, today, learned counsel for the respondents states that he has instructions to seek further time from the authority to comply with our order and to pass orders. 2.

The request made is the oral request. There is no application filed 26 February 2025

3-WP 13964-24.DOC praying for extension of time though the order of the Court mandated that the orders on the show cause notice be placed on record. We do not countenance such practice and would not accept any such application. The authority ought not to have breached the orders of this Court. 3.

We may also observe that in paragraph 2 of our order dated 05 February 2025, we have specifically noted that for a substantial time, adjudication of the show cause notices was not taken up and hence, it was appropriate that the show cause notices are decided at the earliest. When the categorical observation of such nature was made, it was incumbent on the authority to pass orders.

4.

As a matter of last opportunity and making it clear that there shall not be any further extension, we adjourn the proceedings on 12 March 2025 (H.O.B.) to enable the authority to place the orders, which would be passed on the show cause notices, on record of this Court. 5.

Stand over to 12 March 2025 (H.O.B.).

(ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.) (G. S. KULKARNI, J.) 26 February 2025