Gujarat HC stays commercial operations of 12 units in Adani Port SEZ

As per the reliable news reports, The Gujarat High Court has today stayed commercial operations and development activities of 12 companies located in the Adani Group owned Adani Port Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) in Mundra taluka of Kutch district, till environmental clearance is granted to them by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), while adjudicating a public interest litigation (PIL) filed last year by villagers of Navinal village in Mundra. It was alleged in the aforesaid PIL that these companies in question have not only developed production units against laws but also were importing and exporting various goods, and have also obtained tax exemptions as per rules of the SEZ, in violation of laws and orders of the court, despite no environmental clearance by the MoEF. A division bench of the Hon'ble Chief Justice Mr. Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice Mr. J B Pardiwala, have also issued notices to the Union government, MoEF, APSEZ, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the companies in question. It is further ordered by the Hon'ble High Court to all the respondents in the case to file their replies before the next hearing which is scheduled after 15 days.