Rajasthan's Jojari River Pollution: SC Directs Registry to Seek CJI’s Orders for Joint Hearing with Related Appeals
SC directs Registry to seek CJI’s orders for joint hearing of Jojari River pollution suo motu case and related appeals filed by RIICO and Rajasthan civic bodies
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of severe pollution in Rajasthan’s Jojari River after a YouTube documentary titled “2 Million Lives at Risk |India’s Deadliest River | Marudhara | Jojari | Rajasthan” was uploaded by the channel News Pinch on September 12, 2025.
After examining the documentary and related records, the Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta noted that the same environmental issues had been subject to long-standing litigation before the Rajasthan High Court and subsequently the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, New Delhi.
The NGT, in 2020–2021, had constituted monitoring committees chaired by former Chief Justice Prakash Chandra Tatia, whose reports revealed rampant industrial pollution in the Jojari, Bandi, and Luni rivers due to effluents discharged by textile and steel units across Jodhpur, Pali, Balotra, and adjoining districts.
In its final order dated February 25, 2022, the NGT had issued detailed directions mandating Zero Liquid Discharge compliance, imposition of environmental compensation, and closure of defaulting industries.
These directions were challenged through statutory appeals under Section 22 of the NGT Act, 2010, filed before the Supreme Court by RIICO, the municipal councils of Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra, among others. Interim stays were granted in 2022 in some of these appeals.
Taking note of the overlap between the pending appeals and the suo motu case, the Apex Court passed a crucial direction, “The Registry is directed to place the papers before Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India for seeking direction of analogous hearing for all the above-referred matters with the suo motu writ petition.”
The order ensures that all connected matters; including RIICO v. Digvijay Singh & Ors., Municipal Council, Pali v. Kisan Paryavaran Sangharsh Samiti, Nagar Nigam, Jodhpur v. Gram Panchayat Araba, and Municipal Council, Balotra v. Digvijay Singh & Ors., will be listed together for a consolidated hearing.
Notably, on September 23, the Court had reserved order in the case for October 9.
Previously on September 15, the Court had initiated the suo moto proceedings and had noted that the contamination was affecting hundreds of villages along the river and rendering the drinking water non-potable for local communities.
The Bench had considered the reports of widespread pollution, noting that the environmental and health impacts were severe and required immediate judicial attention. It had 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 had 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.