NGT Imposes ₹10,000 Cost On Jajpur Collector For Failure To Submit Joint Committee Report On Alleged Illegal Mining
Pranav B Prem
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, on Tuesday (18th Nov) imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on the Collector and District Magistrate of Jajpur for failing to submit the court-mandated investigation report into the alleged illegal mining activities at the Bajabati Black Stone Quarry-2 under Dharmasala tehsil within the stipulated period. The bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member) and Expert Member Ishwar Singh recorded that although a joint committee had been constituted by the Tribunal and directed to file its report within one month from September 25, no report had been submitted, and no request for extension had been made in this regard. Holding the lapse to be unjustified, the Tribunal observed that “default in submission of the report of the Joint Committee has caused inconvenience and unnecessary delay in disposal of the case and also resulted in unnecessary adjournment,” and consequently imposed monetary costs upon the Collector.
The Tribunal further directed that the cost shall be deposited within fifteen days before the Registrar of the Eastern Zonal Bench. In addition, the bench granted a final opportunity for compliance, directing that the report of the joint committee be filed within four weeks, warning that failure to comply will result in the Collector and District Magistrate, Jajpur being required to appear physically before the Tribunal to explain the non-compliance. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 16, 2026.
The proceedings stemmed from an application filed by Bajabati resident Urbashi Jena, represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy. The applicant alleged that the quarry was being operated beyond the approved lease area and deeper than the permissible six-metre depth, in violation of environmental norms. The petition also alleged that the lessee was blasting within 200 metres of residential houses without mandatory clearance, exceeding approved extraction limits, and functioning without maintaining the required safety zone. It was further contended that neither the lessee nor the tehsildar had submitted the mandatory quarterly compliance reports.
Taking note of these assertions, the Tribunal had earlier observed that the allegations give rise to “substantial questions relating to the environment” and had constituted a joint committee comprising representatives from the Jajpur administration, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board, the Deputy Director of Mines (Jajpur) and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority to conduct an inquiry. The failure to submit the report, as recorded in the present hearing, has now resulted in the imposition of financial penalty and the extension of time for filing.
During the hearing, the Tribunal also allowed I.A. No. 107/2025/EZ filed by Rakesh Kumar Jena and Ranajeet Keshari Jena seeking to be impleaded as co-petitioners, noting the absence of objections from the respondents and permitting their addition on the condition that they will not file separate pleadings. Respondents numbered 1 to 11, 13, 15 and 16 have been granted six weeks to file their responses.
The Tribunal imposed costs of ₹10,000 on the Collector and District Magistrate, Jajpur for not filing the joint committee report within the prescribed time and directed that the report be submitted within four weeks. It further warned that failure to comply will require the Collector to appear in person before the Tribunal on the next date of hearing, with the matter now posted for January 16, 2026.
Appearance
Applicant: Mr. Sankar Prasad Pani and Mr. Ashutosh Padhy, Advocates for the applicant (through VC).
Respondents: Mr. Prabhu Prasanna Behera, ASC for respondents no.1 to 8 (through VC). None for respondents no.9. Ms. Papiya Banerjee Bihani, Advocate for respondents no.10 and 11 (through VC). Mr. Apurba Ghosh, Advocate for respondent no.12 (through VC). Mr. Ashok Prasad, Advocate for respondents no.13 and 14 (through VC). Mr. Surendra Kumar, Advocate for respondent no.15 (through VC). Mr. Subir Kumar Palit, Senior Advocate and Ms. Ananya Pradhan, Advocate for respondent no. 16 (through VC).
Cause Title: Urbashi Jena V. State of Odisha & Ors.
Case No: Original Application No.180/2025/EZ , I.A. No. 107/2025/EZ
Coram: Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member), Expert Member Ishwar Singh
