Breaking: Punjab & Haryana High Court Stays 17 PPCB Show-Cause Notices Against Trident; No Coercive Action Till July 10
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 10, 2026: In a major interim relief for Trident Limited, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the operation of the show-cause notices issued to the company by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and directed that no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner till the next date of hearing, July 10, 2026.
The order was passed by a Division Bench while hearing Trident's writ petition challenging multiple show-cause notices issued by the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
During the hearing, Punjab Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi, assisted by DAG Satnam Preet Singh Chauhan, accepted notice on behalf of the State and sought time to file a status report/reply.
The State also raised a preliminary objection regarding the maintainability of the writ petition, contending that an effective and efficacious remedy was available to the petitioner before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
However, the High Court kept the question of maintainability open for consideration and granted interim protection to the company.
In its operative order, the Bench directed that the operation of the show-cause notices (Annexures P-8 to P-24) shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing and that no coercive steps shall be taken against Trident Limited.
The matter has now been listed for further hearing on July 10, 2026.
Trident Limited had approached the High Court challenging 17 show-cause notices issued by the Punjab Pollution Control Board on May 27, alleging that the notices were issued in violation of the principles of natural justice and without providing it an adequate opportunity to present its case.
The company submitted that the proposed action could severely impact its industrial operations and the livelihoods of thousands of employees associated with the unit. It also relied on reports from an NABL-accredited laboratory to contend that its environmental parameters were within the prescribed limits.
Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Manisha Gandhi had described the action as "unfortunate and politically motivated."
The petition further pointed out that the series of actions initiated by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) began after Trident Group Founder-Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta joined the BJP Parliamentary Party. The company has alleged that the proceedings were intended to harass its founder and the internationally known business group.
With the interim order, the High Court has, for the time being, stayed the operation of the impugned notices while the legal challenge remains pending.
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