NGT Asks Activist To Submit Evidence On Alleged Environmental Violation In Renovating Shahrukh Khan's Residence Mannat

The Western Zone bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked an activist, who challenged the legality of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted for Shahrukh Khan's plan to add two additional floors to the existing six-storey Mumbai house Mannat, to submit evidence of the alleged environmental norms violation.

"If any violation of the...procedure has been committed by the Project Proponent or the MCZMA, the same may be submitted by the appellant specifically along-with the evidence in support of that, within four weeks, failing which we would be left with no option but to dismiss the present appeal for non-compliance of the order of this Tribunal, at the stage of admission itself," Judicial Member Dinesh Kumar Singh and Dr. Vijay Kulkarni said.

Mumbai based activist Santosh Daudkar alleged that Khan demolished two "heritage structures" for constructing Mannat, without obtaining mandatory prior environmental clearance between the year 2000 to 2006 from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Hence, he cannot proceed further without rectifying the previous violations, it was submitted.

"The entire plot under reference was reserved for an Art Gallery in the statutory Development Plan, which has been got deleted without any mandatory permission of the MCZMA," he argued further.

It was also alleged that Khan committed a fraud by constructing 12 number of 1-Bedroom-Hall-Kitchen flats for mass housing and later merging them into a super luxury single-family accommodation, in violation of the provision of Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976.

After hearing the plea, the Tribunal opined that grounds, which have been raised by him in the appeal, do not appear to be relevant because the alleged actions were taken by Khan long back between the year 2000 to 2006.

The NGT acknowledged that "it is also true that the CRZ recommendation...is obtained in the year 2025 i.e. on 03.01.2025. Therefore, the present appeal has been filed within 30 days' limitation period."

"But we find that the grounds, on which the said CRZ recommendation has been challenged, are not proper because the CRZ Clearance, which has been granted, appears to have been granted in terms of the Clause No.8 of the CRZ Notification 2019," it added.

Consequently, the Tribunal asked to provide evidence for the same and listed the matter for April 23.

Mr. Aditya Pratap, Advocate for appellant

Title: Santosh Daudkar v. The secretary, MoEF&CC & Ors.

Click here to read/download the order