Rajasthan's River Jojari: SC Takes Suo Motu Action Against Contamination by Industrial Waste
SC takes suo motu cognizance of River Jojari pollution in Rajasthan caused by industrial waste
The Supreme Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognizance of pollution in the River Jojari in Rajasthan, caused primarily by the discharge of industrial waste from nearby factories.
The Bench noted that the contamination was affecting hundreds of villages along the river and rendering the drinking water non-potable for local communities.
The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta considered the reports of widespread pollution, noting that the environmental and health impacts were severe and required immediate judicial attention.
The Bench directed that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai for appropriate orders, indicating the possibility of constituting a larger Bench or forming a monitoring committee to oversee remedial action.
The Court emphasized that the situation required urgent intervention from both the State Government of Rajasthan and relevant Central authorities to prevent further harm to the affected population and ensure that industries comply with environmental regulations.
Notably, on September 15, the Court had reserved its order in a case concerning ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh, warning that the crisis extends beyond the State to the entire Himalayan region. The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta had cautioned that if unregulated development continues, “the entire State may vanish in thin air from the map of the country.”
Justice Mehta had underscored that the problem was not confined to Himachal. “This is not going to be limited to Himachal only… the entire Himalayan region,” he observed, adding that another ecological incident had been reported on September 12, during the pendency of the case. on August 25, the Apex Court had taken suo motu a matter concerning the ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh, where it had earlier sounded a stark warning that the State may “vanish into thin air” if immediate remedial measures were not undertaken.
In July, observing that "the day is not far when the entire State of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country," the Court had emphasised the urgent need for sustainable development and ecological preservation.
In a related news, on September 15, the Apex Court also reserved its orders in a suo motu case concerning custodial deaths and the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across Rajasthan. on September 4, the Apex Court had initiated a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across the country, following media reports of 11 custodial deaths in 2025.
The Bench had taken note of a report published in Dainik Bhaskar highlighting the alarming rise in custodial deaths over the past seven to eight months.
Hearing Date: September 16, 2025
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta