Authority: Supreme Court of India (Civil Appellate Jurisdiction)
Order Date: 16 September 2026
Case Overview
- Parties: The Managing Director of M/s Bharat Rasayan Limited (Unit‑II) (appellant) vs. Aditya Roop Singh Chauhan (respondent).
- Background: National Green Tribunal Western Zone Bench, Pune, in Original Application No.60/2022 (WZ) dated 29‑05‑2024 awarded additional compensation of Rs.2,75,92,936 to legal heirs of three deceased employees and Rs.17,60,000 to injured persons.
- The Supreme Court, by order dated 02‑08‑2024, directed the appellant to deposit the compensation with the Court Registry at 7% interest because beneficiaries were not readily traceable.
- On 07‑08‑2026 the Court disposed the appeal, declined to interfere with the NGT award, and directed Gujarat Pollution Control Board to spend the amount per its affidavit dated 10‑07‑2026, but gave no direction for the accident compensation deposited with the Registry.
- The Registry now seeks clarification on the Rs.3,27,82,418 lying in a fixed deposit, which must be paid to the victim‑claimants or their legal heirs.
Final Outcome
- The Court rejected the appellant’s claim that beneficiaries are untraceable and ordered a court‑supervised exercise to identify and verify them.
- It directed the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court to initiate suo motu proceedings to:
1. Identify injured persons (paragraph 111 of NGT judgment) and legal heirs of the three deceased employees (paragraphs 108‑109).
2. Verify their identity, entitlement and inter‑se shares without reopening the quantum of compensation.
3. Obtain records and assistance from the appellant, relevant authorities and District Legal Services Authority, Bharuch, and publish notices if necessary.
4. Disburse the due amounts with proportionate interest in accordance with the NGT judgment and this order.
- The fixed deposit, maturing on 17‑09‑2026, shall be renewed for one year from maturity, together with accrued interest, or until the amount is transferred, whichever is earlier.
- Upon verification, the Registrar General of the Gujarat High Court shall forward beneficiary particulars and a requisition to the Supreme Court Registry, which shall transfer the amount to the High Court for disbursal; any undistributed balance shall remain in an interest‑bearing deposit under the High Court’s orders.
- The Registry is to transmit a copy of this order to the Registrar General of the Gujarat High Court; the Miscellaneous Application is disposed.
Topics: Compensation Disbursement, Environmental Liability