Punjab HC grants Trident Group 30-day relief from PPCB coercive action
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday, 8 May 2025 granted interim relief to the Trident Group, owned by Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta, directing that the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) must not take any coercive action against the company without first affording it a reasonable opportunity of 30 days to rectify any minor defects or deficiencies. The order came in response to a petition filed by the Trident Group challenging the PPCB's conduct following an inspection of its premises.
What the Court Ruled
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry disposed of the petition with an oral observation that the PPCB had failed to demonstrate any grave environmental emergency warranting immediate coercive action. The Bench noted that since no evidence was placed on record showing that any stream, well, land, or environment was being polluted by poisonous effluents, coercive measures could only be initiated after the company was given a fair chance to address any deficiencies. The court further clarified that Trident Group would be at liberty to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) if the PPCB initiated any coercive action in the interim.
Background: The April 30 Inspection
The order followed a PPCB inspection on 30 April 2025, during which the company alleged that nearly 30 officials entered its premises in the evening, collected samples, and allegedly failed to adhere to mandatory statutory procedures prescribed under environmental laws. The Trident Group contended that all its industrial divisions held valid environmental consents and approvals, and argued that the sudden nature of the inspection raised serious apprehensions of mala fide intent.
Allegations of Political Targeting
The company alleged procedural violations, intimidation, and political targeting, linking the PPCB's action to a change in the political affiliation of its founder, Rajinder Gupta. The PPCB denied these allegations. Senior advocate D.S. Patwalia, appearing for the PPCB, dismissed the vendetta allegation as a
