Authority: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction

Order Date: May 22, 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellant – SHREE BALAJI GRIT UDYOG & ORS.; Respondent – THE STATE OF HARYANA & ORS.
  • Nature of Proceedings: A batch of civil appeals (SLP(C) Nos. 11052 of 2021, 1091 of 2025, 30301 of 2024, 2816 of 2025, 8513 of 2025, 5116 of 2025, 8162‑8163 of 2025, 7971 of 2025, 8072 of 2025, 10654‑10655 of 2025, 8582 of 2025, 9519‑9520 of 2025, 13646 of 2025, 19456 of 2025, 26230 of 2025) arising from judgments dated 12 July 2021 and 29 Nov 2024 of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.
  • Regulatory Background:
  • 1992 Notification (issued 9 June 1992) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 set initial siting criteria for stone‑crushing units.
  • Superseded by 1997 Notification (18 Dec 1997) and later amended (1998‑2004).
  • 11 May 2016 Notification replaced the 1997 regime, revising sit‑ing distances, defining crusher zones, and prescribing a three‑year (extendable by one year) compliance period for existing units.
  • 4 April 2019 Notification amended the 2016 rules, notably imposing a minimum 500 m distance from educational institutions.
  • 2 Sept 2025 Notification further revised the regulatory framework, becoming the governing rule for stone‑crushing units.
  • High Court Findings:
  • 12 July 2021 judgment dismissed a batch of writ petitions, holding compliance issues to be factual matters for the appropriate authority.
  • 29 Nov 2024 common judgment upheld the 2016 and 2019 Notifications, confirming the State’s competence under Sections 3, 5 and 23 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  • Subsequent Developments: While the appeals were pending, the State issued the 2 Sept 2025 Notification, which is now the operative regulatory framework. Its validity is itself under challenge in separate High Court proceedings.

Final Outcome

  • The Court directed that all appellants’ cases be reconsidered under the Notification dated 02‑09‑2025 within three months.
  • Eligibility & Permissions:
  • Appellants whose units meet the eligibility criteria of the 2025 Notification shall be granted, renewed, or continued permissions as per law (21.2).
  • Non‑operational appellants may submit applications for consideration; mere submission does not confer any right to commence operations (21.3‑21.4).
  • Interim Protection: Operators currently operating under interim orders of the High Court or this Court may continue operations until the competent authority decides their cases under the 2025 framework (21.5).
  • Right to Challenge: Any appellant aggrieved by a show‑cause notice, refusal, revocation, or closure order issued under the 2025 Notification may challenge the action before the appropriate forum (21.6).
  • Pending Writ Petitions: Writ petitions pending before the High Court that challenge the 02‑09‑2025 Notification shall be decided independently on their merits (21.7).
  • Specific interlocutory applications (I.A. No. 124944/2026, I.A. Nos. 122211/2026 and 124945/2026) are disposed of, leaving parties free to pursue challenges to the 2025 Notification in the High Court.
  • All other pending applications, if any, are also disposed of.

Topics: Stone Crushing Regulation, Environmental Law, Haryana