Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 24: The District Administration Bandipora has finally sealed a cement hollow brick manufacturing unit in the Naidkhai area that had been set up in total violation of environmental norms.
The J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) had ordered its closure last year, but the unit’s owner managed to obtain a stay order from a local court.
The stay was recently vacated following the intervention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The NGT had, in January this year, intervened in what it termed a “petty case” related to the establishment of the unit at Naidkhai, Bandipora.
According to a petition filed before the NGT by local resident Zahoor Ahmad Dar, the District Administration Bandipora and the concerned Tehsildar failed to act despite repeated pleas.
The unit, as per the original complaint, is located adjacent to a Government Higher Secondary School and is surrounded by several residential houses.
In 2022, the school principal had written to the Tehsildar concerned, who in turn sought a report from his Naib Tehsildar.
Despite this, no action was taken, even after the complainant approached the SDM Sumbal and the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora. They later approached the Governor’s Grievance Cell, which then informed the JKPCC.
The JKPCC, on 27.05.2024, ordered the closure of the unit citing violations of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
However, the unit’s owner challenged the closure order before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Srinagar.
Technically, the CJM had no jurisdiction in the matter, yet interim relief was granted to the plant owner.
Ironically, the JKPCC did not challenge that order before the District Court or the NGT.
With all administrative channels exhausted and a defective order in place, Zahoor Ahmad Dar finally approached the NGT in New Delhi.
The case was heard on January 21, 2025, before the NGT’s Principal Bench comprising Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. Afroz Ahmad (Expert Member). The Bench observed that the CJM Srinagar had no jurisdiction in the matter.
The Bench advised the JKPCC to bring the matter to the notice of the CJM Srinagar so that the order could be modified accordingly.
The case was finally disposed of on July 15, 2025, by CJM Aadil Mushtaq Ahmad, CJM Srinagar, whose order stated: “Falling in line with the authoritative judgment supra, I need not determine the other two requisites when the very first is missing. For all that has been discussed above, the application for interim relief is devoid of any merit and is accordingly rejected. The order dated 28.10.2024 is vacated.”
Following this, the JKPCC took up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, on 17.07.2025.
Subsequently, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, directed the Tehsildar Hajin on 22.07.2025 to close down the said unit.
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