A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta on Tuesday directed the registration of a suo motu case and ordered that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India for further action. The bench emphasized the seriousness of environmental degradation caused by unchecked industrial discharge.
This move comes shortly after the same bench addressed concerns over the lack of functional CCTV cameras in Rajasthan police stations, and after Justice JB Pardiwala-led observations on the alarming environmental decline in Himachal Pradesh. The Court’s repeated interventions underline its growing concern over environmental and governance issues in India.
Environmentalists have long warned that pollution in Jojari River, a tributary of the Luni, has devastated aquatic life and agricultural fields in Jodhpur and surrounding districts. Villagers have been forced to rely on unsafe water sources, exposing them to serious health risks. Government reports have previously flagged the issue, but enforcement has remained weak.
The Court’s intervention is expected to compel state authorities and pollution control boards to act decisively against violators. Experts argue that without strict monitoring and accountability, industrial waste will continue to endanger both livelihoods and ecosystems.
This suo motu case signals the judiciary’s willingness to act as a guardian of environmental rights, especially when regulatory bodies fail to enforce safeguards. It adds to a growing list of judicial initiatives addressing climate change, river pollution, and reckless urban development across India.
