MEHTA M. C. Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IA No. 18 Items 'A', 'B' and C Punjab National Bank and Electrical Construction and Equipment Co. Ltd. are the lessees in the building constructed by Bhartiya Adim Jati Sewak Sangh. We have heard Mr G.L. Sanghi, learned Senior Counsel for Punjab National Bank and Mr K.N. Balgopal, learned counsel for M/s Electrical Construction and Equipment Co. Ltd. M/s Jay Shree Tea Industries Ltd. are the tenants of M/s Lal Dwara Managing Committee. We have heard Mr G.L. Sanghi, learned Senior Counsel for the industry. We have heard Mr S.K. Mehta, learned counsel for M/s Delhi Automobiles; Mr Ramji Srinivasan, learned counsel for M/s Jalandhar Motor Agency and Mr H.N. Salve, learned Senior Counsel for M/s Prentice Hall of India.

(2.) AFTER hearing the learned counsel for the parties, we are of the view that in the interest of ecology and environment, these enterprises which are operating as lessees in the Ridge Area shall have to relocate themselves. It is necessary to maintain balance between environment and development. We have no intention of stopping development but keeping in view the fact that the ridge has to be saved and environment protected, we direct that these enterprises must relocate themselves from the Ridge Area, We, therefore, direct that PNB which has got lot of clientele shall relocate themselves from the present place and shall go out of the Ridge Area by 31-8-1997. So far as the other enterprises, namely, Electrical Construction & Equipment Co. Ltd., Delhi Automobiles, Jalandhar Motor Agency and Prentice Hall of India are concerned, we give them time to vacate, and leave the Ridge Area, till 31-3-1997. These industries shall relocate themselves from the Ridge Area.

(3.) ON 24-7-199-6, M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, IAs Nos. 18, 22, 32 and 33 in WP (C) No. 4677 of 1985, order dated 24-7-1996 (SC) this Court passed the following order relating to Lal Dwara Managing Committee: "The Ridge Management Board shall take over the encroached land measuring 1590.08 sq yd from the Committee. Mr Ray very fairly states that the Committee shall remove the encroachment. This may be done within two months...."