1. The present Miscellaneous Application has been registered on an Office Report dated 10.09.2026 seeking directions regarding the investment and disbursal of Rs.3,27,82,418/-, presently lying in a fixed deposit with the Registry of this Court.

2. The National Green Tribunal, Western Zone Bench, Pune (NGT), by its judgment dated 29.05.2024 in Original Application No.60/2022 (WZ), awarded: (i) additional compensation of Rs.2,75,92,936/- to the legal heirs of Sudhansusekhara Baman Sadhangi, Kundan Kumar Jha and Amit Kailasrao Bijawe under paragraphs 108 and 109 read with paragraph 118(ii); and (ii) additional compensation aggregating to Rs.17,60,000/- to the injured persons under paragraph 111 read with paragraph 118(iii).

3. The aforesaid order was challenged before this Court and vide order dated 02.08.2024, this Court directed the appellant-company to comply with paragraphs 101 to 112 read with paragraph 118(ii) and (iii) of the NGT judgment. On 30.08.2024, upon being informed that the persons entitled to receive compensation were not readily traceable, this Court directed, as an ad hoc measure, that the compensation be deposited with its Registry together with interest at 7 per cent (%) per annum.

4. The appeal was finally disposed of on 07.08.2026, whereby this Court declined to interfere with the environmental compensation imposed by the NGT and directed the Gujarat Pollution Control Board to spend that amount strictly in accordance with the utilisation plan disclosed in its affidavit dated 10.07.2026. The final order did not, however, contain any direction for disbursal of the accident compensation deposited with the Registry.

5. The Registry has now sought a clarification with respect to the amount of Rs. 3,27,82,418/-, which is lying deposited with the same. The said amount(s) have to be paid to the victim-claimants or their legal heirs, as the case may be.

6. The earlier inability to trace the beneficiaries cannot defeat, or indefinitely postpone, disbursal. We cannot accept the bald-faced plea taken by the appellant-company that the claimants are not traceable. A Court-supervised exercise is necessary to identify them, verify their entitlement and facilitate payment.

7. Consequently, we request the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court to cause appropriate suo motu proceedings to be registered for the following limited purposes:

                   (i) identifying the injured persons referred to in paragraph 111 of the NGT judgment and the legal heirs of the three deceased employees referred to in paragraphs 108 and 109 thereof;

                   (ii) verifying their identity and entitlement and, where necessary, determining the inter se shares of the legal heirs, without reopening the quantum of compensation awarded by the NGT;

                   (iii) obtaining such records and assistance as may be required from the appellant-company, the relevant authorities and the District Legal Services Authority, Bharuch, and directing publication of notices if considered necessary; and

                   (iv) disbursing the amounts due to each verified beneficiary, together with the proportionate interest accrued thereon (if any), in accordance with the NGT judgment and the directions contained in this order.

8. The fixed deposit, which is due to mature on 17.09.2026, shall be renewed by the Registry for one year from the date of maturity, together with accrued interest, or until the amount is transferred pursuant to this order, whichever is earlier.

9. Upon verification, the Registrar General of the High Court shall forward the beneficiaries' particulars and a requisition to the Registry of this Court, which shall transfer the amount held in the fixed deposit to the High Court for disbursal. Any undistributed balance shall remain in an interest-bearing deposit under the orders of the High Court.

10. The Registry shall forthwith transmit a copy of this order, together with the relevant record, to the Registrar General of the High Court of Gujarat. The Miscellaneous Application stands disposed of in the above terms.