New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- Pollution control boards can impose and collect compensatory damages: Supreme Court The Supreme Court (SC) on August 4, 2025 upheld the powers of pollution control boards to impose restitutionary and compensatory damages as an ex-ante measure to prevent potential environmental damage.

A bench comprising Justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Manoj Misra held that under provisions of Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, pollution control boards are constitutionally and statutorily empowered to levy damages for actual or potential environmental harm.

"The Pollution Control Boards can impose and collect as ...