The Kerala High Court has passed an interim stay on the closure notice issued by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) to Freshcut Organic Products, Thamarassery.
The order to close the poultry waste rendering unit had been issued on receipt of complaints that the said unit was draining its waste to an adjacent residential area.
While hearing a plea by the firm challenging the closure order, a Bench of Justice C. Jayachandran took note of a report of the panchayat secretary that “there is no indication of draining the waste from the petitioner’s unit to the outside.”
On its part, the petitioner firm submitted that no notice had been issued prior to the issuance of the closure order.
The court held that it found prima facie merits in the contentions raised by the firm. The closure order does not contain any specific reason, except a ‘bald allegation’ that the petitioner is enabling the flow of waste to the residential area nearby. This is not substantiated by any inspection by the PCB. There is no reference to any such inspection in the order. That apart, a recent inspection report by the panchayat secretary would prima facie show to the contrary. Besides, no show-cause notice was issued prior to the closure order.
The court further directed the environmental engineer concerned to inspect the unit at the earliest to specifically ascertain whether any waste is being drained to the residential area. In addition, the District Level Facilitation and Monitoring Committee ought to nominate a competent officer to accompany the PCB engineer at the time of inspection. Subsequently, a report ought to be filed in this regard by August 13, it said.
Published – August 06, 2026 11:28 pm IST
