NGT admits contempt plea against Madhya Pradesh CM

Registrar’s court of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has admitted contempt application against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday. This is first third party contempt case before the tribunal where contempt case is not against any of admitted respondents, but against third party. Hearing on application will be held before NGT bench this month.
On Monday, the matter came up for scrutiny before registrar Mohan Tiwari, who took cognizance of the petition.Now the matter would be posted for admission and orders before central zone bench comprising judicial member Justice Dalip Singh and expert member Ranjan Chatterjee.
Upon admission, NGT may direct to file complaint of contempt before competent authority like chief judicial magistrate (CJM) or even impose financial penalty.
“The application has been filed as per rules of NGT under Section 26 of NGT Act 2010,” registrar said.
Previously, the matter was posted for hearing on May 12, but was later differed to after petitioner Manish Sharma sought for an adjournment in matter citing health issues.
On May 5, NGT bench comprising Justice Dalip Singh and expert member Ranjan Chatterjee had ordered that contempt application (MA 265/2015) be moved against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for his ‘Mai Ka Laal’ comment in Kaliasot green belt case, should be filed as an independent petition under Section 26 of the NGT Act 2011 as original application and not as a miscellaneous application.
The tribunal had said the matter may be listed after registering petition as an original application after a later date. It would, however, first be listed before registrar for scrutiny and then before the bench.
NGT officials had said the petitioner would only have to pay Rs 1,000 as fees in matter following which it would be registered as an original application. The matter was also referred to principal bench for suggestion.