Suspense prevailed to ousting of Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) chairman Mr. Kuldeep Pathania from the top post as the appointment of 10 state pollution control board chairmen were announced were quashed on the ground of non-fulfillment of eligibility by National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the oral observation made today.
Talking to Himvani, Mr. Pathania informed that NGT has only made the oral observation to remove ten chairmen however it is too early to construe that I (he) include in the list mentioned by the bench at New Delhi today. It is worthwhile to mention that Single Judge Green Bench of NGT comprising of Justice Ravindran Rathore today decided to quash the appointment made by 10 states of Pollution Control Board chairmen and vice chairmen on the ground of unfulfilling the qualification.
The matter was fixed for hearing before the NGT today as a litigant had challenged the violation of SC judgment by non-implementing the apex court order regarding the qualification of these functionaries. ”There is no question of quit from the post as there is no written order by Green bench as remarks have made in the oral observation.” Mr. Pathania told Himvani. The question also does not arrive of to figure in the lists of chairmen to be removed in the Green Bench order as I fulfilled essential condition mentioned in the Supreme Court large bench judgment for the appointment.
Being qualified as BSc degree in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry mentioned in SC verdict I should not be in the order moreover information has submitted before the NGT during the earlier hearing. It is hypothetical to construe that I would be removed by the NGT on the ground of qualification like other chairmen and vice of other states may be. However if he found a place in the order I could not take next remedy to move Supreme Court at this stage challenging green bench order until it would not be passed in written form. Currently SC is on vacation and matter could not be heard before the two-judge division vacation bench as issues of qualification in the matter were delivered by the large bench of apex Court, he added.
