The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to decide within a week a representation filed by Piramal Pharma Ltd, challenging the immediate closure of its Dahej manufacturing facility over alleged environmental violations linked to hazardous waste dumping.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, and justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria disposed of the petition after noting that the company had already moved a representation before the pollution control board on February 5, seeking revocation of the closure order dated February 3.
While senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Piramal Pharma, urged the court to stay the shutdown order, the bench refrained from granting any interim relief, observing that the allegations involved dumping of hazardous waste into a water body connected to the Narmada river.
“This is about alleged dumping of hazardous waste in the Narmada river… this is a source of water for the state and its people. You avail of your remedies before the statutory authorities and the green tribunal,” the bench told Rohatgi.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Gujarat Pollution Control Board.
In its order, the Supreme Court directed the pollution control board to decide the company’s representation within a week after giving it an opportunity to be heard. It also clarified that Piramal Pharma would be at liberty to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which, if moved, should decide the matter, preferably within two weeks.
The Dahej facility is a key manufacturing unit for Piramal Pharma, producing speciality fluorochemicals and key starting materials (KSMs) used in inhalational anaesthesia, forming a critical part of the company’s hospital generics business.
The controversy originates from allegations of environmental violations under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. According to GPCB, on January 30, 2026, a tanker carrying spent hydrochloric acid left Piramal Pharma’s Dahej facility for delivery to a licensed waste treatment unit in Surendranagar district.
While the journey ordinarily takes five to six hours, villagers in Gandhinagar district allegedly spotted the same tanker dumping chemical waste into a water canal in the early hours of January 31. Acting on local complaints, surveillance inputs and route data, the pollution control board concluded that the tanker had deviated from its authorised route.
Holding Piramal Pharma accountable as the generator of the hazardous waste, GPCB initiated emergency action, issued a show-cause notice, and on February 3, ordered the immediate closure of the Dahej plant.
The closure order directed a complete shutdown of all manufacturing operations, stoppage of electricity and water supply except for limited use required for safe shutdown, and prohibited the use of captive power and diesel generator sets. The board also ordered the company to furnish a ₹15 lakh bank guarantee for one year, warning that non-compliance could invite further action, including encashment of the guarantee.
On its part, Piramal Pharma denied any illegal dumping and attributed the alleged violation to a third-party transporter. The company relied on GPS tracking data, including records from the pollution board’s monitoring system, to contend that the tanker was never near the Gandhinagar canal. According to the company, the vehicle had halted at Bagodara along the authorised route for rest.
The company also argued that it was not afforded an adequate opportunity to present its case before the closure order was issued and contended that shutting down the entire plant was disproportionate, particularly in light of the alleged dumping by a third-party transporter.
However, on February 5, the Gujarat high court dismissed Piramal Pharma’s challenge to the shutdown, holding that the pollution control board was empowered to order immediate closure in cases involving a risk of serious environmental harm.
