Source: http://peractolegal.com/the-environment-protection-act-1986/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 20:24:32+00:00

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(1) This Act may be called the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
(3) It shall come into force on such date 1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and for different areas.
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government shall have the power to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution.
(3) The Central Government may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do for the purposes of this Act, by order, published in the Official Gazette, constitute an authority or authorities by such name or names as may be specified in the order for the purpose of exercising and performing such of the powers and functions (including the power to issue directions under section 5) of the Central Government under this Act and for taking measures with respect to such of the matters referred to in sub-section (2) as may be mentioned in the order and subject to the supervision and control of the Central Government and the provisions of such order, such authority or authorities may exercise the powers or perform the functions or take the measures so mentioned in the order as if such authority or authorities had been empowered by this Act to exercise those powers or perform those functions or take such measures.
3. POWER OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT.
4. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND THEIR POWERS AND FUNCTIONS.
5. POWER TO GIVE DIRECTIONS.
6. RULES TO REGULATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.
7. PERSONS CARRYING ON INDUSTRY, OPERATION, ETC. NOT TO ALLOW EMISSION OR DISCHARGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS IN EXCESS OF THE STANDARDS.
8. PERSONS HANDLING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TO COMPLY WITH PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS.
9. FURNISHING OF INFORMATION TO AUTHORITIES AND AGENCIES IN CERTAIN CASES.
10. POWER OF ENTRY AND INSPECTION.
11. POWER TO TAKE SAMPLE AND PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
14. REPORTS OF GOVERNMENT ANALYSTS.
15. PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENTION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT AND THE RULES, ORDERS AND DIRECTIONS.
17. OFFENCES BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
20. INFORMATION, REPORTS OR RETURNS..
21. MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE AUTHORITY CONSTITUTED UNDER SECTION 3 TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
24. EFFECT OF OTHER LAWS.
26. RULES MADE UNDER THIS ACT TO BE LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT.
12 Commissioner (Water Management), Ministry of Water Resources —Member-Secretary.
(n) to deal with any environmental issue concerning surface and groundwater quality which may be referred to it by the Central Government or the State Government relating to the respective areas, for maintenance and/or restoration of quality to sustain designated-best-uses.
3. The Authority shall exercise the powers under section 19 of the said Act.
4. The Authority may appoint domain experts for facilitating the work assigned to it.
5. The Ministry of Water Resources shall create a cell to assist the Authority to carry out the assigned functions.
6. The Authority shall furnish report about its activity at least once in three months to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
7. The tenure of the Authority shall be upto 31st March, 2007.
The court should approach that no activities which would ultimately lead to unscientific and unsustainable development and ecological destruction at all be allowed and the courts must scrupulously try to protect the ecology and environment; Goa Foundation, Goa v. Diksha Holdings Pvt. Ltd., AIR 2001 SC 184.
To protect the health of the present and future generation and protect and improve the environment, the non-CNG-buses were phased out and ordered for the use of CNG-buses; M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 2002 SC 1696.
A public interest petition was filed seeking directions from the apex court to the Government for exhibition of slides in cinema halls containing information and messages on environment free of cost, spread of relative valuable information relating to environment in national and regional languages through television and Radio in regular and short-term programmes and for making environment as compulsory subject in schools and colleges. The Supreme Court accepted the prayers in principle and issued directions to that effect holding that keeping the citizens informed is an obligation of the Government; M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1992 SC 382.
The Central Government is empowered to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution; M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 1037.
The responsibility for repairing the damage is of the offending industry. The task of determining the amount required for carrying out the remedial measures, its recovery/realisation and the task of undertaking the remedial measures is placed upon the Central Government; Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action, etc. v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 1446.
The main purpose of the Act is to create an authority or authorities with adequate powers to control pollution and protect the environment; Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 2715.
(i) To ensure sustainable development is one of the goals of Environmental Protection Act, 1986, and this is quiet necessary to guarantee ’right to life’ under Article 21. If the Act is not armed with the powers to ensure sustainable development, it will become a barren shell. In other words, sustainable development is one of the means to achieve the object and purpose of the Act as well as the protection of ’life’ under Article 21; N.D. Jayal v. Union of India, AIR 2004 SC 867.
(ii) It is necessary that green areas and the parks in all the towns and cities of Rajasthan are maintained to protect environment and ecology, but it is seen they are allowed to be encroached upon due to commercial and other pressures. They are converted from green areas to commercial areas and residential areas. Concrete jungles are swallowing green areas. That trend needs to be halted to protect and preserve ecology; Justice R.S. Verma v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 2004 Raj 175.
(iii) The harmonisation of the two namely, the issue of ecology and developmental project cannot but be termed to be the order of the day and the need of the hour; Goa Foundation, Goa v. Diksha Holdings Pvt. Ltd., AIR 2001 SC 184.
(iv) There is need for creating general awareness towards the hazardous effects of noise pollution. Similar awareness need to be created in Police and Civil administration as well. Not only the use of loudspeakers and playing of hi-fi amplifier systems has to be regulated, even the playing of high sound instruments which create noise beyond tolerable limit need to be regulated; Noise Pollution (in re:), AIR 2005 SC 3136..
(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 3, the Central Government may appoint officers with such designations as it thinks fit for the purposes of this Act and may entrust to them such of the powers and functions under this Act as it may deem fit.
(2) The officers appointed under sub-section (1) shall be subject to the general control and direction of the Central Government or, if so directed by that Government, also of the authority or authorities, if any, constituted under sub-section (3) of section 3 or of any other authority or officer.
(b) stoppage or regulation of the supply of electricity or water or any other service.
Where total prohibition against establishment of industries in an area is in force, the State Government cannot grant exemption to a specified industry located within or attempting to locate itself within such area. Neither can the State direct the State Pollution Control Board to prescribe conditions for grant of No Objection Certificate; A.P. Pollution Control Board v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu, (2001) 2 SCC 62.
(i) The grant of lease of land belonging to forest area to be used for setting up beneficiation plant which involve dust and water pollution and consequent destruction of adjoining forest and subsequently affecting the environment and ecology of the area and right to life, was declared void; Goa Foundation v. State of Goa, AIR 2001 Bom 318.
(ii) If the Central Government has issued certain directions and notified certain industries as hazardous and stone crushers have not been included then the Board would not be forbidden from exercising its power under provisions of Air Act or Water Act; Bihar State Pollution Control Board v. Hiranand Stone Works, AIR 2005 Pat 62.
(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules in respect of all or any of the matters referred to in section 3.
(f) the procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental pollution and for providing for remedial measures for such accidents.
(i) The Karnataka High Court has directed the operation of industrial units in land earmarked as residential area in the Development plan to be stopped which were being established in gross violation of various statutory provisions thereby causing persistent pollution detrimental to health and held that where due to human negligence the quality of air or environment are threatened the court would not hesitate to use its innovative powers within its epistolary jurisdiction to enforce and safeguard the right to life to promote public interest. Since the right to life inherent in Article 21 of the Constitution of India contemplates qualitative life which is possible only in an environment of quality; V. Laksmipathy v. State of Karnataka, AIR 1992 Karn 57.
(ii) A limited power of exemption from the operation of Noise Rules by the Central Government is not unreasonable. The power to grant exemption is a reasonable restriction in public interest; Forum, Prevention of Environment & Sound Pollution v. Union of India, AIR 2006 SC 348.
No person carrying on any industry, operation or process shall discharge or emit or permit to be discharged or emitted any environmental pollutant in excess of such standards as may be prescribed.
Discharge or emittance or permission to discharge or emit of any environmental pollutant in excess of standards is strictly prohibited. The Supreme Court has issued directions to the concerned authorities to control and prevent the pollution of Ganga water at Kanpur, inter alia, being—(a) prevention from waste gathered at the dairies. (b) enlargement of sewers and construction of sewers where absent. (c) provision for public latrines to avoid use of open land. (d) High Courts should not ordinarily stay criminal proceedings in such matters. (e) Corpses or Half cremated bodies are not thrown in the river. (f) new industries to get licences only after making provision for treatment of effluents and immediate action against existing polluting industries. (g) Central Government to include environment as a subject in educational institutions. (h) people should be made aware of the environmental problems; M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 1115.
It has been held that there is an absolute liability on the part of those who are engaged in construction work, particularly of multi-storeyed structures, not to commit nuisance by letting out effluent from their drainage system; Ajay Constructions v. Kakateeya Nagar Cooperative Housing Society Ltd., AIR 1991 AP 294.
Upon leakage of Oleum gas from Caustic Chlorine plant affecting several persons the Supreme Court allowed it to be restarted by the management subject to certain stringent conditions that were specified; M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1987 SC 965.
It has been held by the Supreme Court that a tannery which cannot set up a primary treatment plant cannot be permitted to continue to be in existence for the adverse effect on the public at large which is likely to ensure by the discharging of the trade effluents from the tannery to the river Ganga would be immense and it will outweigh any inconvenience that may be caused to the management and the labour employed by it on account of its closure; M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 1037.
It has been held that to ensure the attainment of the constitutional goal of the protection and improvement of the natural wealth and environment and of the safeguarding of the forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to protect the people inhabiting the vulnerable areas from the hazardous consequences of the arbitrary exercise of granting mining leases and of indiscriminate operation of the mines on the strength of such leases without property, the court will be left with effectively by issuing appropriate writs, orders and directions including the direction as to the closure of the mines the operation whereof is proving to be hazardous and the total prohibition of the grant or renewal of mining leases till the Government evolves a long-term plan based on a scientific study with a view to regulating the exploitation of the minerals in the State without detriments to the environment, ecology, the natural wealth and resources and the local population. However, the need for judicial intervention may not arise even in those cases where the court’s jurisdiction is invoked if the administration takes preventive remedial and curative measures meanwhile; Kinkri Devi v. State of Himachal Pradesh, AIR 1988 HP 4.
(b) be bound, if called upon, to render all assistance, to such authorities or agencies as may be prescribed.
(2) On receipt of information with respect to the fact or apprehension of any occurrence of the nature referred to in sub-section (1), whether through intimation under that sub-section or otherwise, the authorities or agencies referred to in sub-section (1) shall, as early as practicable, cause such remedial measures to be taken as are necessary to prevent or mitigate the environmental pollution.
(3) The expenses, if any, incurred by any authority or agency with respect to the remedial measures referred to in sub-section (2), together with interest (at such reasonable rate as the Government may, by order, fix) from the date when a demand for the expenses is made until it is paid may be recovered by such authority or agency from the person concerned as arrears of land revenue or of public demand.
(c) for the purpose of examining and testing any equipment, industrial plant, record, register, document or any other material object or for conducting a search of any building in which he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act or the rules made there under has been or is being or is about to be committed and for seizing any such equipment, industrial plant, record, register, document or other material object if he has reasons to believe that it may furnish evidence of the commission of an offence punishable under this Act or the rules made there under or that such seizure is necessary to prevent or mitigate environmental pollution.
(1) for carrying out the functions under that sub-section and if he fails to do so without any reasonable cause or excuse, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.
(3) If any person willfully delays or obstructs any person empowered by the Central Government under sub-section (1) in the performance of his functions, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.
(4) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), or, in relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, or any area in which that Code is not in force, the provisions of any corresponding law in force in that State or area shall, so far as may be, apply to any search or seizure under this section as they apply to any search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 94 of the said Code or, as the case may be, under the corresponding provisions of the said law.
In a writ petition filed in 1983, i.e., more than 3 years before the commencement of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 the Supreme Court has held that the Act does not purport to/or perhaps could not-take away the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to deal with such case. Ordinarily the court would not entertain a dispute for the adjudication of which a special provision has been made by law but the rule is not attracted in the instant case. Besides it is a rule of practice and prudence and not one of jurisdiction; Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra v. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR 1988 SC 2187.
It is open to the authority empowerd by the Central Government, to inspect the premises of the factory, call for documents from the parties or any other body or authority or from the State Government or Union Government and to examine witnesses, if needed. It also have power to obtain data or technical advice from any source; A.P. Pollution Control Board v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu, AIR 1999 SC 812.
(1) The Central Government or any officer empowered by it in this behalf, shall have power to take, for the purpose of analysis, samples of air, water, soil or other substance from any factory, premises or other place in such manner as may be prescribed.
(b) in a case where the occupier or his agent or person present at the time of taking the sample refuses to sign the marked and sealed container or containers of the sample as required under clause (c) of sub-section (3), the marked and sealed container or containers shall be signed by the person taking the samples, and the container or containers shall be sent without delay by the person taking the sample for analysis to the laboratory established or recognised under section 12 and such person shall inform the Government Analyst appointed or recognised under section 13 in writing, about the willful absence of the occupier or his agent or person, or, as the case may be, his refusal to sign the container or containers.
(b) recognise one or more laboratories or institutes as environmental laboratories to carry out the functions entrusted to an environmental laboratory under this Act.
The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint or recognise such persons as it thinks fit and having the prescribed qualifications to be Government Analysts for the purpose of analysis of sample of air, water, soil or other substance sent for analysis to any environmental laboratory established or recognised under sub-section (1) of section 12.
(1) Whoever fails to comply with or contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, or the rules made or orders or directions issued there under, shall, in respect of each such failure or contravention, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both, and in case the failure or contravention continues, with additional fine which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day during which such failure or contravention continues after the conviction for the first such failure or contravention.
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provide in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
It is well settled principle of law that vicarious criminal liability cannot be attached unless all the conditions for fastening such liability are proved; Municipal Corporation of India v. Dev Raj, 1985 FAJ 156 Del DB.
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Government or any officer or other employee of the Government or any authority constituted under this Act or any member, officer or other employee of such authority in respect of anything which is done or intended to be done in good faith in pursuance of this Act or the rules made or orders or directions issued there under.
(b) Any person who has given notice of not less than sixty days, in the manner prescribed, of the alleged offence and of his intention to make a complaint, to the Central Government or the authority or officer authorised as aforesaid.
The Central Government may, in relation to its functions under this Act, from time to time, require any person, officer, State Government or other authority to furnish to it or any prescribed authority or officer any reports, returns, statistics, accounts and other information and such person, officer, State Government or other authority shall be bound to do so.
All the members of the authority, constituted, if any, under section 3 and all officers and other employees of such authority when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any provisions of this Act, or the rules made, or orders or directions issued there under, shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.
No Civil Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of anything done, action taken or order or direction issued by the Central Government or any authority or officer in pursuance of any power conferred by or in relation to its or his functions under this Act.
Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 3, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, delegate, subject to such conditions and limitations as may be specified in the notification, such of its powers and functions under this Act, [except the power to constitute an authority under sub-section (3) of section 3 and to make rules under section 25] as it may deem necessary or expedient, to any officer, State Government or other authority.
(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the provisions of this Act and the rules or orders made therein shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any enactment other than this Act.
(2) Where any act or omission constitutes an offence punishable under this Act and also under any other Act then the offender found guilty of such offence shall be liable to be punished under the other Act and not under this Act.
(j) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.
Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both House agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

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