December 2, 2025 : The National Green Tribunal’s Principal Bench in New Delhi has disposed of an appeal by M/s Rama Natural Foods Pvt. Ltd. against a closure order issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), while giving the company a short window to seek resumption of operations and directing that environmental compensation be imposed for past violations.
The matter was heard on 2 December 2025 by a Bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Members Dr. A. Senthil Vel and Dr. Afroz Ahmad. The appeal was filed under section 18 of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, challenging a closure direction dated 19 September 2025 issued under section 12(2)(xi) of the same Act.
Rama Natural Foods argued that the closure order had been passed without granting it any opportunity of hearing, in violation of the principles of natural justice. The company further informed the Tribunal that after the order, it had obtained Consent to Operate (CTO) on 15 November 2025 and had also installed a compliant diesel generator (DG) set.
On the other side, counsel for CAQM pointed out that an inspection team had visited the unit on 21 August 2025 and noted several violations. The unit was found to fall in the “red” category of industries, was operating a 125 KVA DG set and did not have a valid CTO at the time of inspection. These findings formed the basis of the closure direction issued in September.
Significantly, the NGT noted that the impugned order itself contained conditions for resumption of operations once the unit complied with the prescribed norms and remedied the deficiencies pointed out by CAQM. Recording the stand of the company that it had now cured those lapses, the Tribunal held that if the unit is indeed compliant, the “necessary action of resumption” must follow in terms of the earlier order.
During the hearing, counsel for CAQM assured the Bench that if the company approached the Commission with an appropriate representation and supporting documents showing full compliance, CAQM would act on it in accordance with clause 6 of the closure order within two days. Taking this assurance on record, the NGT disposed of the appeal with a clear direction: Rama Natural Foods has been permitted to file a detailed representation “during the course of the day,” and CAQM must take a decision on resumption within two days of receiving it.
The Tribunal also addressed the issue of environmental compensation (EC) for past violations. Referring to clause 6(ii) of the impugned order, it directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to “immediately initiate action” for imposing EC, after following the principles of natural justice and giving the company an opportunity to be heard. At the same time, the Bench made an important clarification: the pendency of EC proceedings will not stand in the way of CAQM taking a decision on resumption of operations under clause 6.
With these directions, the appeal was formally disposed of, and the NGT directed that a copy of its order be sent to the Member Secretary of UPPCB for necessary compliance. The outcome effectively creates a two-track process for Rama Natural Foods: it can seek an early reopening of its unit by proving current compliance to CAQM, while simultaneously facing scrutiny and possible financial liability for its past non-compliance before the UPPCB.
Case Details : Appeal No. 71/2025, M/s Rama Natural Foods Pvt. Ltd. Appellant Versus Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas
Counsels : Appellant: Mr. Rahul Khurana & Mr. Hasil Jain, Advocates. Respondent: Dr. Abhishek Atrey and Mr. Navneet Gupta, Advocates.
