SC hands notices to top Maha officials over Goel Ganga Developers

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday issued notices to chief secretary of the state government DK Jain, principal secretary (environment) Anil Diggikar, Pune's municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao and others with respect to a contempt petition filed by a city-based activist. The case pertains to Goel Ganga Developers India Pvt Ltd, that has been facing Rs 105-crore penalty, for undertaking construction of a project on Sinhagad Road without valid environment clearance. The bench of justice SA Bobde and justice Deepak Gupta are hearing the case. Petitioner TanajiGambhire, in his contempt petition, has claimed that in the last order - dated August 10, 2018 - the SC had directed chief secretary to conduct an inquiry of principal secretary SatishGawai within three months. However, it never happened and the person concerned failed to submit the report to the apex court as well as the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Gambhire also claimed that the municipal commissioner had also been instructed to take action against the errant officer by conducting an inquiry. But no such task was initiated, either.