Holding

The Court affirmed that the 92‑hectare portion is a constraint area as per the 19‑August‑1997 order and that constructions thereon require environmental clearance, directing the MoEF to determine appropriate remedial measures including penalties.

Summary

The Supreme Court examined a public‑interest litigation concerning the proposed International Hotel Complex on 315 hectares in Vasant Kunj, Delhi. Earlier orders had declared 92 hectares of the site a "constraint area" and required environmental clearance under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 before any construction. The petitioners alleged that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the allottees proceeded with construction without such clearance, violating environmental norms, and sought penalties. The respondents argued that the land was not part of the Delhi Ridge, that the relevant notifications did not apply to their projects, and that they had acted in good faith based on DDA’s representations. The Court held that the 19‑August‑1997 order unequivocally made the 92 hectares a constraint area, that the Expert Committee report was acceptable, and that any construction on the land must obtain the requisite clearance. It directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests to decide on remedial measures, including possible penalties, within two months, and disposed of the applications.

Issues considered

The legal status of the 92‑hectare portion of the project site – whether it is a constraint area or part of the Delhi Ridge
Whether construction proceeded without the environmental clearance required under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Whether the Expert Committee report recommending penalties is admissible
Whether the respondents can be penalised for alleged violations of environmental norms

Legislation cited

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986s. 3(3), s. 5

Subjects

environmental clearanceconstraint areaDelhi Ridgepenaltyexpert committeepublic interest litigationDelhi Development Authorityviolation of environmental normsconstruction without clearance

Judgment

T.N. GODA VARMAN THJRUMULPAD A
v.
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

OCTOBER 17, 2006

[ARIJIT PASA YAT AND S.H. KAPADIA, JJ.] B

Environmental laws:

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986-Proposal for development of
International Hotel Complex on 315 hectares ofland in Vasant Kun), identified C
for urban use in Master Plan for Delhi 2001-Direction to obtain
environmental clearance-Supreme Court holding 92 hectares of land out of
315 hectares as constraint area-Violation of environmental norms by DDA
and allottees, construction works carried out without obtaining environmental
clearance-Report of Expert Committee-Recommendation that Ministry of D
Environment and Forests and Supreme Court to impose penalty on violators-
Acceptability of-Held: 92 hectares of land declared as constraint area-
MoEF to take decision on the same basis-Constructions had to be made
after obtaining requisite clearance-Impression given by DDA to the parties
participating in auction that all requisite clearances had been obtained,
though it does not appear to be so-Thus, MoEF to take decision with E
regard to remedial measures including imposition of amounts as costs within
two months-Public interest litigation.

,_ In the Master Plan for Delhi 2001, 315 hectares of land situated in the
Vasant Kunj area was identified for urban use. Delhi Development Authority
proposed the development of International Hotel Complex. By order dated
F
13.9.1996 this Court directed that the proposed Complex of DOA to obtain
environment clearance from the Authorities under the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 before carrying out any construction or development
in the area. Thereafter, by order dated 19.8.1997, this Court held that 92
hectares of land out of 315 hectares of land was constraint area and only for G
balance 223 hectares of land constructions have to abide by conditions of
clearence. It is alleged that there was violation of environmental norms by
respondents. Project proponents commenced construction works without
obtaining environm~nt clearance in contravention to the Notification in July
261 H
262 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2006) SUPP. 7 S.C.R.

A 2004. Pursuant to the directions of this Court, the Expert Committee gave its
report. It recommended that the Ministry of Environment & Forests and
Supreme Court may consider imposing a penalty on the project proponents.
Hence, the present IAs.

Appellant contended that this Court never held that 92 hectares of land
B are not a part of the ridge; that the order dated 19.8.1997 expressed no opinion
whether the land was a part of the ridge; that the Environmental Pollution
(Prevention and Control) Authority gave a report that the environmental factors
were not in favour of urban development use of land and the entire land should
be developed as green; and that the Expert Committee's report is per se
C unacceptable as it focused more on regularizing the unauthorized areas rather
than on the consequences flowing from the non-observance of the procedure
before undertaking any construction.

Respondents contended that their lands were allotted by DDA; that as
per Notification No.S0/60(E) dated 27.1.1994 for the first time a provision
D for obtaining environmental clearance by a Central Government (MoEF) before
undertaking any new project listed in Schedule-I to the Notification was
introduced; that the Notification did not relate to new construction projects
and as such did not apply to them; and that the amendment by Notificatfon
dated 7.7.2004 postulates post facto clearance contemplated for new
construction projects undertaken.
E
DDA and the allottees inter alia contended that the order dated 19.8.1997
clearly stated that 92 hectares of land was constraint area and was not an
integral part of Delhi Ridge; that the Notification has never been challenged;
that out of the said 92 hectares of land, only 19 hectares of said land are
F sought to be utilized for the purpose of construction; and that it proceeded on
a bona fide impression that all requisite clearances had been obtained by it
and there was no question of acting in ma/a fide manner or irregular manner.

Disposing of the !As, the Court

HELD: 1.1. The order dated 19.8.1997 makes the position clear that 92
G
hectares of land were kept out of consideration and in fact it was clearly
declared to be a constraint area. The expression 'constraint area' has its own
connotation. A Notification in respect of the land in question has been issued.
The said Notification has never been challenged. The EPCA's report dated
6.10.1999 nowhere indicates that the land in question was a part of the ridge.
H Both the EPCA and the Expert Committee's report under consideration refer
T.N. GODAVARMAN THlRUMULPAD v. U.O .!. 263
to the land as "similar to ridge area". Significantly, the EPCA in its report A
has taken note of the fact that there is no statutory definition of "ridge".
That being so, it would be inappropriate to reopen the whole issue as to whether
the land in question was a constraint area or ridge land. A bare reading of
the order dated 19.8.1997 makes the position clear that this Court had treated
the land as constraint area. 1270-F-H; 271-A-BI
B
1.2. In some cases the Expert Committee after public hearing has made
the recommendations with certain stipulations. It has been clearly stated that
the project can be recommended for environmental clearance. The confusion
arose because DOA all through gave an impression to the parties participating
in auction that all requisite clearances had been obtained. Had such parties C
inkling of an idea that such clearances were not obtained by DOA, they would
not have invested such huge sums of money. The stand that wherever
constructions have been made unauthorisedly demolition is the only option
cannot apply to the instant cases, more particularly, when they unlike, where
some private individuals or private limited companies or firms being allotted
to have made contraventions, are corporate bodies and institutions and the D
question of their having indulged in any malpractices in getting the approval
or sanction does not arise. In most of these cases the constructions arc already
complete and have become functional. DOA had also made some constructions
at the site in question. (271-F-H; 272-A-CJ

1.3. The MoEF is to take a decision by taking the land as constraint E
area. It is needless to say that even if the land is held to be constraint area
the constru'ctions thereon have to be made after having the requisite clearance.
The MoEF would take note of the stands projected by the respondents. The
bonajides of the respondents are established but at the same time it needs no
emphasis that ODA should have been more transparent in ensuring that it F
was not putting a site for auction where there was scope for litigation. It had
definitely created an impression that all necessary clearances had been
obtained, though it does not appear to be so. What remains to be decided as to
what remedial measures including imposition of such amounts as costs can
be taken. The MoEF is to take decision within two months.1272-D-G(
G
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION: I.A. No. 1156 in Writ Petition (Civil)
No. 202of1995.

(Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India.)

H
264 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 7S.C.R.
A WITH

I.A. Nos. 1192, 756, 1463, 150 I and 1532 in WP (C) 202 of 1995.

Harish N. Salve (A.C.) (N.P.), Prashant Bhushan, Vishal Gupta, Rohit
Kumar Singh, Parul Kaur, Sanjay Parikh Anitha Shenoy and A.N. Singh for
B the Petitioner.

Vikas Singh, A.S.G., A. Sharan, A.S.G. U.U. Lalit (A.C.) (N.P.) Arun
Jaitley, Dhushyant Dave, Mukul Rohtagi, Altaf Ahmed, Sidhartha Chowdhary,
(A.C.), Ravi P. Mehrotra, Anil Katiyar, Vishnu B. Saharya (for Mis. Saharya
Co.), Vijay Panjwani, Gopal Singh, Ritu Raj Biswas, A. Subhashini, S. Wasim
C A. Qadri, Kamlendra Mishra, R.K. Dubey, Ajay Siwach, Sandeep Sharma,
Pradeep Dahiya, T.V. George, M.P. Meharia, Kuldip Singh, Arun K. Sinha,
Sanjay Katya!, R.K. Pandey, A.T.M. Sampath, A.K. Sanghi, A.N. Bardiyar,
Aruneshwar Gupta, A. Mariarputham, Ashok Mathur, Anish Ahmed Khan,
Ajit Pudussery, Baby Krishnan, Binu Tamta, Sushma Suri, Bharat Sangal, Nina
D Gupta, Shweta Chadha, Akanksha, Meha Kiran, Bina Gupta, C.L. Shau, C.K.
Sucharita, Dinesh Kumar Garg, D.N. Goburdhan, Pinky Anand, Geeta Luthra,
E.C. Agrawala, E.M.S. Anam, Ejaz Maqbool, G. Prakash, H.S. Parihar, Ramesh
Singh, A.T. Patra, Nipun Malhotra (for Mis. O.P. Khaitan & Co.), K.N.
Madhusoodhanan, R. Sathish, K.H. Nobin Singh, S. Biswajit Meitei, B.V.
Niren, P.H. Parekh, Sandeep Parekh, Ranjeeta Rohtagi (for Mis. P.H. Parekh
E & Co.) Nandini Gore, Jayant Mohan, Manik Karanjawala, S.S Shinde, V.N.
Raghupathy, D.P. Singh, Sanjay Jain, Pravin Bahadur, Meghalee Barthakur,
Ravinder Narain, Rajan Narain (for Mis. Rajan Narain & Co.) P.K. Aggarwal,
Vinay K. Shailendra, A.D.N. Rao, P.K. Aggarwal, Vinay K. Shailendra, R.S. Suri
Chand Kiran, Gyan Mitra, P.K. Jayakrishnan, Dr. K.S. Chauhan, Nidhi Bisaria,
F Madhu Sikri, Musharraf Chowdhry, B.S. Banthia, Shekharprit Jha, K.K. Malviya,
Bipin Kumar Jha, C.D. Singh, Minakshi Sharma, Bhavan Shankar V. Gadnis
and B. Simita Rao for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

G ARIJIT PASAYA T, J. The present !As relate to acceptability of the
report given by the Expert Committee relating to alleged violation of the
environmental norms by the respondents.

Background facts in a nutshell are as follows:

The Delhi Development Authority (in short the 'ODA') proposed the
H
T.N. GODAVARMANTHIRUMULPADv. U.O .I. [PASAYAT, .I.] 265

development of International Hotel Complex on 315 hectares of land situated A
in the Vasant Kunj area after the same area was identified in the Master Plan
for Delhi 200 I for urban use. According to the applicants, the said area under
the earlier Master Plan 1962 was identified as green area but there was a
change of user to urban area under the lat1er Master Plan i.e. Master Plan
2001. DOA planned to develop the said area for construction of Hotels,
Convention Centres etc. Initially, by an order dated 13.9.1996 this Court B
directed inter a/ia as follows:

"The proposal of the Delhi Development Authority (ODA) called
International Hotels Complex (Complex on 315 hectares of prime land
situated in South Delhi) is before us for consideration. In the affidavit C
filed by Mr. Arnn Khaisalkar, Commissioner (Planning), (ODA), the
details of the development in respect of the said 315 hectares has
been given. It is not disputed that the Master Plan of Delhi 200 I was
amended on June 17, 1995 whereunder out of the total area of the
complex the area assigned for residential purposes was reduced from
I 00 hectares to 49 hectares and for commercial purposes increased D
from 8 hectares to 65 hectares. Apart from that 39 hectares have been
earmarked for public and semi-public, 15 hectares for transportation
and remaining 14 7 hectares for recreational purposes.

It is stated in the affidavit that there is an acute shortage of
tourist accommodation in Delhi and as such it is necessary to provide E
sites for 4/5 Star Hotels, Institutions, Hospital, Shopping Mall etc. It
is further stated that the Complex area is not a part of the Ridge. It
is about 2 Km. away from Southern and South Central Ridge.

We have heard Mr. V.B. Saharya, learned counsel for ODA and
also Mr. P.C. Jain, Consultant, Planner, DOA. We have heard Mr. F
Mehta, Dr. Rajiv Dhawan and other learned counsel assisting us in
this matter.

Mr. Sunder Subramanian, Member of Citizens for the South Western
Lake Wilderness and Others and of PILSARC, has filed an affidavit
pursuant to this Court's order dated September 4, 1996. It is stated in G
the affidavit that the area is topographically a part of the South Ridge
which is to South Delhi what the Central Ridge is to Central Delhi. It
is further stated in the affidavit that the area is lake studded covering
over I 000 acre. The affidavit indicates that the area was kept green
under the 1962 Master Plan in the Draft Zonal Plan of 1993 (ZDP Zone H
266 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 7 S.C.R.

A 121993-Z-P/F/93-52) of the DOA 2001 Master Plan. It is further stated
that this area is the natural extension of Sanjay Van a notified reserve
forest and a part of Ridge. Along with the affidavit, various photographs
have been attached to depict the ecology of the area.

This Court in Ve/lore Citi::ens Welfare Forum v. Union of India
B and Ors., 1T (1996) 7 SC 375 has observed that the development and
environment protection must go together. There should be balance
between development and environment protection. It is, therefore,
necessary that before the proposed Complex of the DOA is brought
into execution, it should have environment clearance from the authorities
concerned. The whole of the area has to be surveyed from the point
c of view of environment protection. In other words, the environment
impact assessment of the area has to be done by the experts. We are
of the view that the authority contemplated by Section 3(3) of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ('the Act') can be the only
appropriate Authority to look into the environment protection side of
D the present project or any other project which the DOA or any other
Authority may initiate in future. Needless to say that the City of Delhi
is already highly congested and has been rated by the World Health
Organization as the 4th most polluted city so far as the air pollution
is concerned. It is, therefore, necessary that the development in the
city should have environmental clearance.
E
We, therefore, direct the Central Government to constitute an
Authority under Section 3(3) of the Act and confer on the said
authority all the powers necessary to deal with the environmental
protection issue arising out of the project in hand or ~my other project
which may in future come under its consideration. The authority shall
F he headed by a retired Judge of a High Court and it may have other
members-preferably experts in the field of pollution control and
environment protection to be appointed by the Central Government.
The Central Government shall confer on the said Authority the powers
to issue directions under Section 5 of the Act and for taking measures
G with respect to the matters referred to in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), (vi), (viii),
(ix), (x) and (xii) of sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Act. The Central
Government shall constitute the. Authority before October 10, 1996.
This Authority shall have the jurisdiction over the National Capital
Region as defined under the National Capital Region Planning Act,.
1985.
H
T.N. GODA YARMAN THIRUMULPAD v. U.O .I. [PASA YAT,.I.] 267

N~edless to say that the authority so constituted shall keep in A
view the 'Precautionary Principle" and other principles laid down by
this Court in Ve/fore Citizens Welfare Forum's case (supra). The
Authority shall lay down its own procedure.

We further direct that till the time the Complex is cleared by the
· Authority so constituted by the Central Government, there shall be no B
construction and no development of any kind in the area by the DOA
or by any other authority. The ODA can, however, clean the area and
plant trees if they so wish.

The proceedings initiated on Kuldip Nayar's letter are disposed
of." c
Subsequently, on an application filed, this Court by an order dated
19 .8.1997 held that 92 hectares of land out of the aforesaid 315 hectares of
land was a constraint area and only in respect of the balance 223 hectares
of land the constructions have to abide by the conditions of clearance.
Subsequently, a Writ Petition was filed (W.P. No. 564/2003) which was D
dismissed by an order dated 8.3.2004. Pursuant to the directions of this Court
the Committee constituted has given its report. The recommendations made
by the Committee are as follows:

I. The project site has topographical features similar to that of the E
ridge. Various studies, including EIA documents submitted now for
obtaining environmental clearance, establish the environmental value
of this area, particularly as a zone of groundwater recharge. Therefore,
DOA should have exercised adequate environmental precaution based
on a sustainable environmental management approach. There is no
evidence that the environmental impact of the construction of malls F
was assessed beforehand and that the development of this area for
commercial activities is in accordance with the Master Plan.

2. DOA 's advertisement (Hindu Dec 12, 2003 ) states: "purchaser
would be required to obtain necessary clearance for the project from
the EPCA and/or DPCC before submitting the plans for sanction to G
the Building Dept of ODA". There is no confirmation that this
requirement was fulfilled by the allottees.

3. DDA has mentioned that FAR for the projects under reference is
pegged at 1.0. However, it is seen that for all the buildings proposed
in Plot no. I to 5, DDA has permitted a higher FAR which works out H
268 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006) SUPP. 7 S.C.R.

A to 1.25 to 1.29.

4. In hindsight it is evident that the location of large commercial
complexes in this area was environmentally unsound. Now many
proponents have constructed very substantially and really speaking
awarding clearances even with conditions is largely a compromise
B with de-facto situation. The Expert Committee is of the opinion that
at this stage only damage control is possible by strict implementation
of effective EMP and resource conservation measures in the project
construction and operational stages.

5. As stated earlier in the interim report, the Committee suggests that
C the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Supreme Court may
consider imposing a penalty on the project proponents who commenced
construction works without obtaining environmental clearance in
contravention to the Notification in July 2004.

6. Existing vacant plots (no. 6 and 7) of the shopping mall complex
D should not be auctioned by ODA for more malls or commercial activities.
They may be kept open as a fringe of the bio-diversity park or
eannarked for development of any common facilities that may be
needed in the area.

7. Treated sewage from Vasant Kunj Sewage Treatment Plant must be
E utilized as much as possible for such purposes as water cooled chillers,
toilet flushing, gardening and horticulture and floor washing. This will
reduce the requirement of fresh water.

8. The aforesai~ purposes will need tertiary treatment of sewage.
Since the allottees of offices and malls have proposed to carry out
F entire treatment up to tertiary level on their own, it should be possible
for them to treat the treated sewage received from Vasant Kunj sewage
treatment plant to the required level.

9. While rainwater harvesting should be done, the withdrawal of
ground water should not he permitted in the shopping mall area.
G
10. For construction, use of ready-mix concrete (RMC) should be
made compulsory so as to reduce movement and storage of materials
and generation of dust.

11. Utilization of solar energy must he maximized in all these proposals
H
T.N. GODAVARMANTHIRUMULPADv. U.O.l. [PASAYAT.J] 269

both for heating water and generating power to light up corridors and A
parking.

12. A Monitoring Committee may be constituted for overseeing the
project so as to ensure effective implementation and compliance to
environmental safeguards".
B
In support of the applications, learned counsel has submitted that it has
never been held by this Court that 92 hectares of land are not a part of the
ridge. On the contrary, the first order itself made the position clear. The
clarification by order dated 19.8.1997 had really expressed no opinion on the
question whether the land was a part of the ridge. A report was given by the
Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (in short 'EPCA') C
chaired by Shri Bhure Lal wherein it has been clearly stated that environmental
factors were not in favour of urban development use of land and the entire
parcel of land should be developed as green. Therefore, it is submitted that
there has been clear violation of the norms fixed on 7.7.2004.

Per contra, learned counsel for DOA and the allottees inter a/ia D
submitted that the applicants are trying to re-open an issue which had become
final about a decade back. The order dated 19.8.1997 made the position
absolutely clear that 92 hectares of land was constraint area and was not an
integral part of Delhi Ridge. Out of the said 92 hectares of land, only 19
hectares of said land are sought to be utilized for the purpose of construction. E
Learned counsel for the DOA additionally submitted that long back the 92
hectares of land have been declared constraint area and there has never been
any challenge to the Notification. In a nutshell, ODA and allottees have
prayed for dismissal of the applications.

The first order of this Court which was relied i.e. 13.9.1996 has been F
quoted above. It would be appropriate to quote the subsequent orders. They
are as follows:

Order 19.8.1997

"Having heard learned counsel for the parties and the learned G
Additional Solicitor General, we are satisfied that this Court's Order
dated 13.9.1996 on I.A.No.18 in WP ( C) No.4677/85 is in effect to
govern the constructions made under the proposal of the Delhi
Development Authority (DOA) called 'The International Hotels
Complex' in South Delhi and mention of the area of 3 15 hectares in
H
270 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2006) SUPP. 7 S.C.R.

A relation to that complex is inadvertent since the DDA's proposal itself
excluded the constraint area described at page 33 of the paper book
(page 13 of the booklet) which is a total of92 hectares including the
shopping Mall and Hotel site of 25 hectares within which is located
the site of the petitioner's proposed Hotel under construction in an
area of 4 hectares. In other words, the proposal of the DDA called
B 'The International Hotels Complex" in South Delhi is to be understood
as that for the area of 315-92 = 223 hectares as shown in the DDA 's
proposal itself. This clarification of this Court's order dated 13.9.1996
has become necessary on account of the fact that the concerned
authorities are construing the order dated 13. 9. 1996 to operate also in
c respect of the aforesaid constraint area of 92 hectares in addition to
some other areas which are even outside the area of 315 hectares.
However, it is made clear that the petitioner and all other similarly
situated outside the 223 hectares of the area of the proposal of the
DDA are required to abide by all the conditions of clearance from the
environmental authorities including taking the measure necessary for
D checking pollution and other requirements of law.

In view of the manner in which this Court's aforesaid order dated
13.9.1996 is to be construed, the order of the Authority of 3 lst January,
1997 and 7th March, 1997 do not survive.

E The Special Leave Petition is disposed of in these terms".

Order dated 8.3.2004

"We are satisfied that the proposed Mall is on the area measuring 92
hectares of land, which has already been excluded by the order of this
F Court on 19th August, 1997. In that view of the matter, we do not find
any merit in this petition. It is accordingly dismissed. However, this
order will not preclude the petitioner from availing any remedy, which
may be available to him under law."

The order dated I9.8.1997 makes the position clear that 92 hectares of
G land were kept out of consideration and in fact it was clearly declared to be
a constraint area. The expression 'constraint area' has its own connotation.
As has been pointed out by learned counsel for the DDA, a Notification in
respect of the land in question has been issued. The said Notification has
never been challenged. The EPCA 's report dated 6. I0.1999 nowhere indicates
that the land in question was a part of the ridge. Both the EPCA and the
H
T.N. GODAVARMANTHIRUMULPAD v. IJ.O .I. [PASA YAT, .I.) 271
Expert Committee's report under consideration refer to the land as "similar to A
ridge area''. Significantly, the EPCA in its report has taken note of the fact
that there is no statutory definition of "ridge". That being so, at this juncture,
it would be inappropriate to reopen the whole issue as to whether the land
in question was a constraint area or ridge land. A bare reading of the order
dated 19.8.1997 makes the position clear that this Court had treated the land B
as constraint area. It has been emphasized by learned counsel for the petitioners
that the Expert Committee's report is per se unacceptable because it has
focused more on the aspects of regularizing the unauthorized areas rather
than on the consequences flowing from the non observance of the procedure
before undertaking any construction. It is stated that this Court has taken
serious view of unauthorized construction and some times on the basis of C
permissions, wrongly granted. Various decisions in this regard are relied on.

In response, learned counsel [or the respondents have stated that their
lands were allotted by the DDA. As per Notification No.S0/60(E) dated
27 .1.1994 for the first time a provision for obtaining environmental clearance
, by a Central Government (MoEF) before undertaking any new project listed D
·in Schedule-to the Notification was introduced. The Notification did not relate
to new construction projects and as such did not apply to them is the stand
of the respondents. The auction was conducted by DDA. Having undertaken
the project, huge investments have been made and with sanction of building
plans they applied for. In some cases applications were filed before DPCC for E
obtaining clearance under the Air and Water Acts. According to them prior
to 7.7.2004 no other environmental clearance was required except clearance as
afore-stated. The auction Notice of DDA dated 12.12.2003 mentions about
clearance from EPCA. According to the respondents, this referred to the draft
Notification dated 7.10.2003 which proposed to include new construction
projects within the ambit of the parent Notification dated 27.1.1994. According F
to them, the amendment by Notification dated 7. 7.2004 postulates post facto
clearance contemplated for new construction projects undertaken.

In some cases the Expert Committee after public hearing has made the
recommendations with certain stipulations. It has been clearly stated that the
project can be recommended for environmental clearance. The confusion G
arose because DDA all through gave an impression to the parties participating
in auction that all requisite clearances had been obtained. Had such parties
inkling of an idea that such clearances were not obtained by DDA, they
would not have invested such huge sums of money. The stand that wherever
constructions have been made unauthorisedly demolition is the only option H
272 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 7 S.C.R.

A cannot apply to the present cases, more particularly, when they unlike, where
some private individuals or private limited companies or firms being allotted
to have made contraventions, are corporate bodies and institutions and the
question of their having indulged in any malpractices in getting the approval
or sanction does not arise. Some of the allottees are the National Book Trust,
School of Planning or Architecture, Shri Ram Vithala Sikha Seva Samiti,
B International Centre for Alternate Dispute Resolution and Institute for Studies
and Industrial Development. In most of these cases the constructions are
already complete and have become functional.

DOA had also made some constructions at the site in question. That
C being so, it is submitted that the recommendations made by the Expert
Committee should be accepted.

Learned counsel for the ODA while adopting the submissions made by
the other respondents submitted that the DOA proceeded on a bona fide
impression that all requisite clearances had been obtained by it. There was
D no question of it acting in ma/a fide manner or irregular manner.
In view of what has been stated above, the MoEF has now to take a
decision by taking the land as constraint area. It is needless to say that even
if the land is held to be constraint area the constructions thereon have to be
made after having the requisite clearance. The MoEF shall take note of the
E stands projected by the respondents. We are prima facie satisfied about the
bona fides of the respondents but 'at the same time it needs no emphasis that
DOA should have been more transparent in ensuring that it was not putting
a site for auction where there was scope for litigation. It had definitely created
an impression that all necessary clearances had been obtained, though it does
F not appear to be so. What remains to be decided as to what remedial measures
including imposition of such amounts as costs can be taken.

Let the MoEF take a decision within a period of 2 months from today
to avoid unnecessary delay. The !As. are accordingly disposed of.

G NJ. !As. disposed of.