Supreme Court Clears Processing Of 400 Industrial Applications In Taj Trapezium Zone

The Supreme Court today allowed processing of 400 pending applications for industries being opened in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) which is a 10,400 sq km protected area to shield the Taj and other heritage monuments in Agra from environmental harm.

While doing so, a CJI Surya Kant led bench ordered that the precautionary principle must be strictly followed and adhered to under the direct supervision of domain experts.

"We, therefore, direct that the TTZ Authority may process the pending applications. We further direct that, in every meeting convened for consideration of such applications, one expert nominated by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and one expert representative of NEERI shall be invited to participate. No meeting shall be held unless both such experts are present. In the event either of the two experts is of the opinion that a particular industry cannot be classified as a non-polluting industry, the concerned application shall not be accepted without the leave of this Court. In cases where both experts, namely the representatives of NEERI and the CEC, are unanimous, and the TTZ Authority also concurs, such applications may be processed and taken to their logical conclusion, strictly in accordance with law and without any reference to this Court," the bench also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana has ordered.

It has further been directed that all decisions shall be uploaded on the website of the CEC, so as to enable public-spirited persons to submit objections or suggestions, if any. Any such objections or suggestions shall also be considered by the TTZ Authority, in consultation with the experts nominated by NEERI and the CEC, before a final decision is taken, the bench added.

As the issue was taken up today, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the bench that no heavy industries would be considered. "...only MSME industries are being considered. We have around 400 applications pending for such industries. We have sought to process those applications. How do we curb the aspirations of millions of people? A complete ban on no new industry is impacting....", ASG Bhati added.

Court noted that an interim report was submitted by NEERI on 21 April 2025, wherein it opposed adopting a rigid definition of "non-polluting industries" and says a strict definition based solely on the standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) would hamper the economic progress of the region.

NEERI instead had recommended that the concept of a non-polluting industry should also take into consideration factors such as the heritage, legacy and Geographical Indication (GI) status associated with Agra and the surrounding region.

Taking note of the interim report of NEERI, as well as the sectoral guidelines for the glass industry, the Supreme Court, by order dated 22 April 2025, had clarified its earlier order dated 14 October 2024 and permitted the relocation of 16 existing industries within the TTZ, subject to compliance with the applicable conditions.

Case Title: IN RE: REGULATION OF INDUSTRIES IN THE TAJ TRAPEZIUM ZONE Vs

Bench: CJI Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana

Hearing Date: July 23, 2026