Noticing procedural lapses by the officials of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in initiating prosecution for violation of environmental laws, the High Court of Karnataka has directed the board’s chairperson to educate officials on these laws by taking the help of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.
Also, the court directed the board to to initiate action as per that law against a Deputy Environmental Officer (DEO) who was responsible for filing ‘defective complaint’ before the judicial magistrate against a stone crushing unit operator without following the mandatory provision in the law.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order while quashing the criminal proceeding initiated in 2015 against B.V. Byregowda, proprietor of a stone crushing unit for violating certain provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the cognisance of offences taken by a judicial magistrate, Bengaluru Rural district.
