'Passing The Buck': Delhi High Court Pulls Up Pollution Control Bodies Over 4-Year-Old Hazardous Waste Container
The Delhi High Court has pulled up the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for “passing the buck” over the disposal of hazardous goods lying in a container at the Inland Container Depot (ICD), Tughlakabad, for nearly four years. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 780]A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Shail Jain observed...
The Delhi High Court has pulled up the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for “passing the buck” over the disposal of hazardous goods lying in a container at the Inland Container Depot (ICD), Tughlakabad, for nearly four years. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 780]
A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Shail Jain observed that neither the CPCB nor the DPCC was willing to assume responsibility for disposal of the hazardous goods contained in the consignment.
“The Container has, in the meantime, remained lying in the yard of the Container Corporation of India for the last four years,” the Court noted.
The Bench was dealing with a plea filed by Safelogic Freight Agency LLC, regarding a dispute of a container in which an importer had allegedly misdeclared the goods and imported plastic trash instead of aluminum. The importer subsequently absconded, leaving the stuffed container lying in the yard.
The Court had earlier noted that the Customs Authorities had taken the position that the container has to he destuffed and returned to the petitioner company. However, the relevant authority later claimed that it did not have adequate space to complete the process.
On July 29, the Court had granted the authorities a final opportunity to reconcile their differences, observing that failure to do so would compel it to pass appropriate orders.
However, even after an adjournment of 20 days, the Court found that no substantive action was taken. In view of the fact that the container was stated to contain hazardous waste comprising plastic and metal scrap, the Court had directed that the CPCB and DPCC be impleaded as necessary parties.
In its latest order passed on August 20, the Bench observed that it was a case of a “typical instance of passing the buck.”
Granting the authorities “one last opportunity” to resolve the controversy among themselves, the Court warned that failing such resolution, it may be constrained to issue “appropriate and stringent directions.”
The Bench directed the Chief Scientist or Senior-most Scientist of both the CPCB and DPCC to personally visit the ICD, Tughlakabad, and submit a report explaining how the alleged hazardous goods can be safely and lawfully disposed of.
The matter will now be heard on August 24.
Title: SAFELOGIC FREIGHT AGENCY LLC v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Del) 780