Appearing as Amicus Curiae, senior advocate RB Mathur informed the court that Hindustan Salts Ltd (HSL) had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Aug, 2023, with SJVN Green Energy Limited for the setting up a solar power project on land forming part of the Sambhar Lake ecosystem. He submitted that the land bank allotted to Sambhar Salts Ltd, an HSL subsidiary, under the MoU was part of the notified Sambhar Lake wetland area.In its response, the bench observed that the MoU had been executed while the matter was actively pending before the High Court, and that it was never informed of the MoU’s existence despite repeated hearings and interim orders. The judges held that applications to the court were moved without disclosing this crucial fact, amounting to an attempt to mislead the court and interfere with the judicial process.Such conduct, prima facie, attracted provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, the court noted.Based on these observations, the High Court initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Commodore (retd) Kamlesh Kumar, former HSL chairman and managing director, Ajay Kumar Singh of SJVN Green Energy Limited and Harsh Verma, the newly-appointed CEO of Sambhar Salts Limited. The bench directed the high court registry to file a contempt petition and issue summons asking the three officers to appear in person at the next hearing on Feb 11 and explain why action should not be taken against them.The matter goes back to a Supreme Court order dated April, 2017, which mandates protection of wetlands such as Sambhar Lake. The Rajasthan High Court has continuously monitored compliance with this order through inquiry committees constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
HC initiates contempt proceedings against 3 PSU officials over Sambhar | Jaipur News
Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court has taken a stern view of alleged illegal activities linked to a proposed solar power project at the ecologically sensitive Sambhar Lake and initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against three senior officials of public sector undertakings (PSUs). The court has also reiterated strict restraining orders to protect the notified wetland area.A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sangeeta Sharma passed the order on Jan 22 while hearing a batch of matters, including a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Dinesh Kumawat, a resident of Nawa, and an ongoing suo motu writ petition related to wetland protection.
