FATIMA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This common order will govern the captioned three 'Writ Petitions' ('W.Ps' in plural and 'W.P.' in singular for the sake of brevity), captioned 'writ miscellaneous petitions' thereat ('W.M.Ps' in plural and 'W.M.P' in singular for the sake of brevity), captioned Contempt Petition and Sub Application thereat.

(2.) In 'captioned W.P.(MD)No.8866 of 2021' (hereinafter 'I Fatima WP' for the sake of convenience) inter-alia a 'Office Memorandum' [hereinafter 'OM' in singular and 'OMs' in plural, though plural of 'memorandum' is 'memoranda' for the sake of brevity] dtd. 19/2/2021 issued by the sole respondent thereat ['Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change' (hereinafter 'MoEF' for the sake of brevity)] has been assailed. This 19/2/2021 OM issued by MoEF shall hereinafter be referred to as 'I impugned OM' for the sake of convenience. In this I Fatima WP, vide an interim order dtd. 30/4/2021 made in W.M.P.(MD)No.6666 of 2021, another Hon'ble Division Bench has stayed this I impugned OM prospectively, this interim order has been assailed in Hon'ble Supreme Court by 'Union of India' {hereinafter 'UOI' for the sake of brevity} vide S.L.P.(C)Diary No.33840 of 2023, notice has been issued and interim stay {interim stay qua interim stay order of Madras High Court Division Bench, i.e., in effect suspending the interim stay granted by another Division Bench of Madras High Court} had been granted by Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dtd. 4/9/2023 which is operating and Hon'ble Supreme Court is in seizin of the SLP.

(3.) In 'captioned W.P.(MD)No.11757 of 2021' (hereinafter 'II Fatima WP' for the sake of convenience), inter-alia a OM dtd. 7/7/2021 issued by the sole respondent thereat, i.e., MoEF has been assailed and an interim order dtd. 15/7/2021 made in W.M.P.(MD)No.9241 of 2021 in this II Fatima WP reported in 2021 SCC OnLine Mad 12936 staying the operation of this 7/7/2021 OM issued by MoEF {hereinafter 'II impugned OM' for the sake of convenience and clarity} is operating.