NGT fines Delhi Jal Board, summons CEO over repeated adjournments in groundwater misuse case

In an order dated July 7, a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava described the water utility’s conduct to be “not bonafide”

Published on: Jul 10, 2025, 06:02:19 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok

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The tribunal was hearing an execution application filed to ensure compliance of a 2018 order, passed in a case filed by activist Shailesh Singh, alleging that several hotels, including a well-known five-star hotel in New Friends Colony, illegally draw groundwater. (Representative photo)

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) rapped the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and imposed a cost of ₹50,000 for repeatedly seeking adjournments in a case related to illegal groundwater extraction by hotels in the Capital.

In an order dated July 7, a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava described the water utility’s conduct to be “not bonafide” and said the cost of ₹50,000 be used to purchase environmental books for the NGT Bar room.

The tribunal was hearing an execution application filed to ensure compliance of a 2018 order, passed in a case filed by activist Shailesh Singh, alleging that several hotels, including a well-known five-star hotel in New Friends Colony, illegally draw groundwater.

In the July 7 hearing, the DJB once again sought an adjournment citing that its counsel was “not in station”, a reason it had submitted on earlier occasions as well, the NGT observed.

“Repeated adjournment by DJB on the same ground that ‘counsel is not in station’ does not appear to be bonafide. The above allegation of the applicant seems to carry weight...” the order said.

Finding merit in the applicant’s claim that the DJB was deliberately delaying proceedings, the bench observed that the board’s conduct was obstructing justice and directed the DJB to appear before it in person in the next hearing on August 12.

“The conduct of the DJB in such a matter where the execution of the order passed almost seven years back has been sought cannot be appreciated. Thus, we require the CEO, DJB, to appear on the next date of hearing to assist the tribunal,” the bench said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jasjeev Gandhiok
Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.Read More

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