Faced with a bailable warrant for his non-appearance before the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Fali Nariman in the Godhra silicosis-relief case on May 11,  the Central Pollution Control Board Chairman, Arun Kumar Mehta, moved the Supreme Court's Vacation bench yesterday for interim relief from any coercive action to execute the bailable warrant.

The Vacation bench, comprising Justices Abhay Manohar Sapre and Ashok Bhushan, however, asked Mehta to approach the same bench which issued the order for bailable warrant against him, for relief.

Mehta has been asked to appear on 30 June before the Joseph-Nariman bench.

According to a human rights lawyer associated with the case, Mehta may have to explain his absence on May 11, whether it was due to his indisposition, or non-availability in Delhi due to official work elsewhere, etc.

Read the order here.