NationalWednesday, 17 June 2026·The Hindu - Environment
Supreme Court upholds NGT ruling that landlord is not liable for tenant’s pollution violations
The Supreme Court in June 2026 upheld an NGT order that a landlord cannot be made liable for environmental violations committed by a tenant in Gujarat.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On June 8, 2026, the Supreme Court upheld a National Green Tribunal order that a landlord in Gujarat could not be saddled with liability for environmental violations committed by a tenant operating from the premises.
Key specifics
- The appeal was filed by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) against the NGT’s November 2025 order.
- The case involved a commercial property in Surat district, Gujarat.
- The Board had imposed interim environmental damage compensation of ₹25 lakh under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
- The landlord, Jagmohan Lachiram Jalan, had leased the plot in September 2020 to Suryaprakash Silaram Somani.
- The Supreme Court bench comprised Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Sanjeev Sachdeva.
Exam lens
TNPSC polity and environment question focus: NGT, GPCB, Section 33A of the Water Act, 1974, ₹25 lakh compensation, Surat district; likely asked as a legal-provision and institution-based MCQ.