HC bars Haryana from prosecuting Maruti

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court restrained Harayana government from “prosecuting” car maker Maruti Suzuki for not having prior environment clearance (EC) for its unit in Rohtak after the company gave an undertaking that it will apply for the green nod. The court held that the company will have to get environment clearance prior to constructing any unit measuring over 20,000 square metres as per central government’s environment impact assessment (EIA) notification of September 14, 2006. Justice Manmohan said that the 2006 EIA notification is applicable on Maruti, though the company had claimed otherwise. The court also said the company and its directors would be bound by its undertaking that it will now apply for and obtain the clearances for all three of its units at Rohtak, Gurgaon and Manesar in Haryana.