The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to the Punjab government and the state pollution control board (PCB) following an appeal by Trident Ltd, a Barnala-headquartered company. The company approached the court apprehending coercive action from the PCB after an inspection of its premises on April 30.
Background of the Case
Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta, who switched from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 24, is the founder and chairman emeritus of Trident. The PCB search at the Barnala unit was conducted on April 30. The High Court has asked for detailed replies from the government and PCB by May 4.
Court Proceedings
When the matter came up before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry on Friday, the PCB assured the court that no coercive steps would be taken against Trident until May 4. This assurance was given in response to the company's apprehension of punitive measures.
Trident's Challenge
Trident, a diversified public limited company, has challenged the April 30 inspection, calling it "arbitrary, mala fide, and in violation of principles of natural justice". The petition claims that the inspection was conducted without prior notice, without citing any specific violation, and in a manner disproportionate to standard practices.
Allegations of Political Motivation
The petition argues that the timing and circumstances of the PCB action raise serious concerns of mala fide intent. It contends that the inspection appears to be motivated by "extraneous and political considerations". According to the plea, Trident has maintained a clean compliance record and consistently adheres to environmental norms. The company's applications for renewal of mandatory consents for 2026-27 are pending, with no deficiencies having been communicated by the authorities.
Relief Sought
Trident has requested the court to issue directions ensuring transparency in sample collection and protection of its sensitive business information collected during the inspection. The company seeks to prevent any potential misuse of data obtained during what it considers an irregular procedure.
