THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 
 

THE ENVIRONMENT 

(PROTECTION) ACT, 1986 

 (As amended to date) 

 



i 
 

ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986 
 

CHAPTER I  
 

PRELIMINARY 
 
 

1. Short title, extent and commencement 
 
2. Definitions 

 
CHAPTER II 

 
GENERAL POWERS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 

 
 

3. Power of Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environment 
 

4. Appointment of officers and their powers and functions 
 

5. Power to give directions 
 
       5A. Appeal to National Green Tribunal 
 

6. Rules to regulate environmental pollution 
 

 
CHAPTER III 

 
PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ABATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 

 
 

7. Persons carrying on industry operation, etc., not to allow emission or discharge of 
environmental pollutants in excess of the standards 

 
8. Persons handling hazardous substances to comply with procedural safeguards 

 
9. Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies in certain cases 

 
10. Powers of entry and inspection 

 
11. Power to take sample and procedure to be followed in connection therewith 
 
12. Environmental laboratories 

 
13. Government Analysts 

 
14. Reports of Government Analysts 

 
15. Penalty for contravention of the provisions of the Act and the rules, orders and directions 

 
16. Offences by companies 

 
17. Offences by Government Departments 
 

 
 

 
 
 



ii 
 

CHAPTER IV  
 

MISCELLANEOUS 
 

18. Protection of action taken in good faith 
 

19. Cognizance of offences 
 

20. Information, reports or returns 
 

21. Members, officers and employees of the authority constituted under section 3 to be public 
servants 

 
22. Bar of jurisdiction 

 
23. Powers to delegate 

 
24. Effect of other laws 

 
25. Power to make rules 

 
26. Rules made under this Act to be laid before Parliament 

 



The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986                                                        151  

THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986 
No. 29 OF 1986 

[23rd May, 1986] 
 

An Act to Provide for the Protection and Improvement of Environment and for Matters 
Connected therewith. 

 
WHEREAS the decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human 

Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take appropriate steps for 
the protection and improvement of human environment; 
 

AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary further to implement the decisions aforesaid in so 
far as they relate to the protection and improvement of environment and the prevention of hazards to 
human beings, other living creatures, plants and property; 
 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:  
 

CHAPTER I  
PRELIMINARY 

 

1. Short title, extent and commencement. – (1) This Act may be called the Environment (Protection) 
Act, 1986. 
 

(2) It extends to the whole of India. 
 

(3) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the 
Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and for 
different areas. 
 
2. Definitions. – In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, – 
 
(a) "environment" includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among and 

between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and 
property; 

 
(b) "environmental pollutant" means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such 

concentration as may be, or tend to be, injurious to environment; 
 
(c) "environmental pollution" means the presence in the environment of any environmental pollutant; 
 
(d) "handling", in relation to any substance, means the manufacture, processing, treatment, package, 

storage, transportation, use, collection, destruction, conversion, offering for sale, transfer or the like 
of such substance; 

 
(e) "hazardous substance" means any substance or preparation which, by reason of its chemical or 

physico-chemical properties or handling, is liable to cause harm to human beings, other living 
creatures, plant, micro-organism, property or the environment; 

 
(f) "occupier", in relation to any factory or premises, means a person who has, control over the affairs 

of the factory or the premises and includes, in relation to any substance, the person in possession 
of the substance; 

 
(g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act. 
 

                                                   
1 It came into force in the whole of India on19th November, 1986 vide Notification No. G.S.R.1198(E) dated 12-11-86 published 

in the Gazette of India No.525 dated 12-11-86. 



152                                               The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986  

CHAPTER II 
 

GENERAL POWERS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 
 
3. Power of Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environment. – (1) 
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government shall have the power to take all such 
measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the 
environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution. 
 

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), 
such measures may include measures with respect to all or any of the following matters, namely: – 
 

(i) co-ordination of actions by the State Governments, officers and other authorities-- 
 

(a) under this Act, or the rules made thereunder; or 
 
(b) under any other law for the time being in force which is relatable to the objects of 

this Act; 
 

(ii) planning and execution of a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control and 
abatement of environmental pollution; 
 

(iii) laying down standards for the quality of environment in its various aspects; 
 

(iv) laying down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various 
sources whatsoever; 
 
Provided that different standards for emission or discharge may be laid down under this 
clause from different sources having regard to the quality or composition of the emission or 
discharge of environmental pollutants from such sources; 
 

(v) restriction of areas in which any industries, operations, or processes or class of industries, 
operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain 
safeguards; 
 

(vi) laying down procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause 
environmental pollution and remedial measures for such accidents; 
 

(vii) laying down procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances; 
 

(viii) examination of such manufacturing processes, materials and substances as are likely to 
cause environmental pollution; 
 

(ix) carrying out and sponsoring investigations and research relating to problems of 
environmental pollution; 
 

(x) inspection of any premises, plant, equipment, machinery, manufacturing or other processes, 
materials or substances and giving, by order, of such directions to such authorities, officers 
or persons as it may consider necessary to take steps for the prevention, control and 
abatement of environmental pollution; 
 

(xi) establishment or recognition of environmental laboratories and institutes to carry out the 
functions entrusted to such environmental laboratories and institutes under this Act; 
 

(xii) collection and dissemination of information in respect of matters relating to environmental 
pollution; 
 

(xiii) preparation of manuals, codes or guides relating to the prevention, control and abatement of 
environmental pollution; 
 



The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986                                                        153  

(xiv) such other matters as the Central Government deems necessary or expedient for the purpose 
of securing the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 

 
(3) The Central Government may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do for the 

purposes of this Act, by order, published in the Official Gazette, constitute an authority or authorities by 
such name or names as may be specified in the order for the purpose of exercising and performing such of 
the powers and functions (including the power to issue directions under section 5) of the Central 
Government under this Act and for taking measures with respect to such of the matters referred to in sub-
section (2) as may be mentioned in the order and subject to the supervision and control of the Central 
Government and the provisions of such order, such authority or authorities may exercise the powers or 
perform the functions or take the measures so mentioned in the order as if such authority or authorities had 
been empowered by this Act to exercise those powers or perform those functions or take such measures.  
 
4. Appointment of officers and their powers and functions. – (1) Without prejudice to the provisions 
of sub-section (3) of section 3, the Central Government may appoint officers with such designation as it 
thinks fit for the purposes of this Act and may entrust to them such of the powers and functions under this 
Act as it may deem fit. 
 

(2) The officers appointed under sub-section (1) shall be subject to the general control and 
direction of the Central Government or, if so directed by that Government, also of the authority or 
authorities, if any, constituted under sub- section (3) of section 3 or of any other authority or officer. 
 
5. Power to give directions. – Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law but subject to the 
provisions of this Act, the Central Government may1, in the exercise of its powers and performance of its 
functions under this Act, issue directions in writing to any person, officer or any authority and such person, 
officer or authority shall be bound to comply with such directions.2 
 

Explanation: –For the avoidance of doubts, it is hereby declared that the power to issue directions 
under this section includes the power to direct– 
 

(a) the closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process; or 

(b) stoppage or regulation of the supply of electricity or water or any other service. 

 
3[5A. Appeal to National Green Tribunal. – Any person aggrieved by any directions issued under 
section 5, on or after the commencement of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (19 of 2010), may file 
an appeal to the National Green Tribunal established under section 3 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 
2010 (19 of 2010), in accordance with the provisions of that Act.] 
 
6. Rules to regulate environmental pollution. – (1) The Central Government may, by notification in 
the Official Gazette, make rules in respect of all or any of the matters referred to in section 3. 
 

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may 
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: –– 
 
 

                                                   
1 The Central Government has delegated the powers vested in it under section 5 of the  Act to the State Governments  of Andhra 

Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, 
Sikkim and Tamil Nadu subject to the condition that the Central Government may revoke such delegation of Powers in respect of 
all or any one or more of the State Governments or may itself invoke the provisions of section 5 of the Act, if in the opinion of 
the Central Government such a course of action is  necessary in public interest, (Notification No, S.O. 152 (E) dated 10 -2-88 
published in Gazette No. 54 of the same date). These Powers have been delegated to the following State  Governments  also  on  
the  same  terms:  Meghalaya, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh vide Notification No. S.0.389 (E) dated 14-4-88 published in the Gazette 
No. 205 dated 14-4-88; Maharashtra vide Notification No. S.O. 488(E) dated 17-5-88 published in the Gazette No. 255 dated 17-
5-88; Goa and Jammu & Kashmir vide Notification No. S.O. 881 (E) dated 22-9-88; published in the Gazette No. 749 dated 
22.9.88 West Bengal Manipur vide Notification N. S.O. 408 (E) dated 6-6-89; published in  the Gazette No. 319 dated 6-6-89; 
Tripura vide Notification No. S.O. 479 (E) dated 25-7-91 published in the Gazette No. 414 dated 25-7-91. 

 

2 For issuing directions see r. 4 of Environment (Protection) Rules,1986. 
 

3 Sec. 5A Ins. by Act 19 of 2010 dt.02.06.2010 



154                                               The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986  

(a) the standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas and purposes;1 
 
(b) the maximum allowable limits of concentration of various environmental pollutants 

(including noise) for different areas; 
 
(c) the procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances;2 
 
(d) the prohibition and restrictions on the handling of hazardous substances in different areas;3 
 
(e) the prohibition and restriction on the location of industries and the carrying on of processes 

and operations in different areas;4 
 
(f) the procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause 

environmental pollution and for providing for remedial measures for such accidents.5 
 
 

CHAPTER III 
PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ABATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 

 
7. Persons carrying on industry operation, etc., not to allow emission or discharge of environmental 
pollutants in excess of the standards. – No person carrying on any industry, operation or process shall 
discharge or emit or permit to be discharged or emitted any environmental pollutant in excess of such 
standards as may be prescribed6. 
 
8. Persons handling hazardous substances to comply with procedural safeguards. – No person shall 
handle or cause to be handled any hazardous substance except in accordance with such procedure and after 
complying with such safeguards as may be prescribed7. 
 
9. Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies in certain cases. – (1) Where the discharge 
of any environmental pollutant in excess of the prescribed standards occurs or is apprehended to occur due 
to any accident or other unforeseen act or event, the person responsible for such discharge and the person 
in charge of the place at which such discharge occurs or is apprehended to occur shall be bound to prevent 
or mitigate the environmental pollution caused as a result of such discharge and shall also forthwith– 

                                                   
1 Seer.3 of Environment (Protection) Rules,1986 and Schedules thereto. 

i. Schedule I lists the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from the industries, processes 
or operations and their maximum allowable limits of concentration; 

ii. Schedule II lists general standards for discharge of effluents and their maximum limits of concentration allowable 
(Schedule II omitted by G.S.R.801 (E), dated 31.12.1993.) 

iii. Schedule III lists ambient air quality standards in respect of noise and its maximum allowable limits; and 
iv. Schedule IV lists standards for emission of smoke, vapour etc. from motor vehicles and maximum allowable limits 

of their emission. 
v. Schedule V – furnishing of information to authorities and agencies. Schedule II re-numbered as Schedule V vide 

G.S.R.422(E), dated19.5.1993. 
vi. Schedule VI – inserted vide GSR422(E), dated 19.5.1993 for General Standards for discharge of Environmental 

Pollutants, 
vii. Schedule VII–inserted vide GSR176(E), dated 2.4.1996 for National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 

 

2 Seer.13 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, and 
i. Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008; 
ii. Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989; and 
iii. Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically/Engineered Organisms 

or Cells Rules,1989 
 

3 Rule 13 SUPRA 
 

4 See r. 5 of Environment (Protection) Rules,1986. 
 

5 See r. 12 of Environment (Protection) Rules and Schedule V (Schedule II renumbered as Schedule V), and relevant 
provisions of Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, Manufacture, 
Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules and Manufacture, Use, Import Export and Storage of hazardous Micro-
organisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or CellsRules,1989. 

 

6 See r. 3 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and Schedule-I. 
 

7 Rule 13 SUPRA 



The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986                                                        155  

(a) intimate the fact of such occurrence or apprehension of such occurrence; and 
 
(b) be bound, if called upon, to render all assistance, to such authorities or agencies as may be 

prescribed1 
 

(2) On receipt of information with respect to the fact or apprehension of any occurrence of the 
nature referred to in sub-section (1), whether through intimation under that sub-section or otherwise, the 
authorities or agencies referred to in sub-section (1) shall, as early as practicable, cause such remedial 
measures to be taken as are necessary to prevent or mitigate the environmental pollution. 

 
(3) The expenses, if any, incurred by any authority or agency with respect to the remedial 

measures referred to in sub-section (2), together with interest (at such reasonable rate as the Government 
may, by order, fix) from the date when a demand for the expenses is made until it is paid, may be recovered 
by such authority or agency from the person concerned as arrears of land revenue or of public demand. 
 
10. Powers of entry and inspection. –  (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person empowered 
by the Central Government in this behalf2 shall have a right to enter, at all reasonable times with such 
assistance as he considers necessary, any place: –  
 

(a) for the purpose of performing any of the functions of the Central Government entrusted to 
him; 

 
(b) for the purpose of determining whether and if so in what manner, any such functions are to 

be performed or whether any provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or any 
notice, order, direction or authorisation served, made, given or granted under this Act is 
being or has been complied with; 

 
(c) for the purpose of examining and testing any equipment, industrial plant, record, register, 

document or any other material object or for conducting a search of any building in which 
he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act  or the rules made thereunder has 
been or is being or is about to be committed and for seizing any such equipment, industrial 
plant, record, register, document or other material object if he has reason to believe that it 
may furnish evidence of the commission of an offence punishable under this Act or the rules 
made thereunder or that such seizure is necessary to prevent or mitigate environmental 
pollution. 

 
(2) Every person carrying on any industry, operation or process or handling any hazardous 

substance shall be bound to render all assistance to the person empowered by the Central Government 
under sub-section (1) for carrying out the functions under that sub-section and if he fails to do so without 
any reasonable cause or excuse, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. 

 
(3) If any person wilfully delays or obstructs any person empowered by the Central Government 

under sub-section (1) in the performance of his functions, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. 
 
(4) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, or, in relation to the State of 

Jammu and Kashmir, or an area in which that Code is not in force, the provisions of any corresponding 
law in force in that State or area shall, so far as may be, apply to any search or seizure under this section 
as they apply to any search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 94 of the 
said Code or, as the case may be, under the corresponding provision of the said law. 
 
11. Power to take sample and procedure to be followed in connection therewith. – (1) The Central 
Government or any officer empowered by it in this behalf3, shall have power to take, for the purpose of 

                                                   
1 For authorities or agencies see r. 12 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and Schedule-V (Schedule-II re- numbered as 

Schedule-V). 
 

2 The Central Govt. has empowered 64 persons listed in the Table of Notification No.S.O.83(E) published in the Gazette of India 
No. 66 dated 16.2.1987 

3 In exercise of powers conferred under sub-section (i) of section 11 the Central Government has empowered 64 officers listed in 
the Table vide S.O.84. (E) published in the Gazette No. 66 dated 16-2-87 

 



156                                               The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986  

analysis, samples of air, water, soil or other substance from any factory, premises or other place in such 
manner as may be prescribed1. 
 

(2) The result of any analysis of a sample taken under sub-section (1) shall not be admissible in 
evidence in any legal proceeding unless the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4) are complied with. 

 
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), the person taking the sample under sub-section 

(1) shall: – 
 

(a) serve on the occupier or his agent or person in charge of the place, a notice, then and there, 
in such form as may be prescribed, of his intention to have it so analysed; 

 
(b) in the presence of the occupier or his agent or person, collect a sample for analysis; 
 
(c) cause the sample to be placed in a container or containers which shall be marked and sealed 

and shall also be signed both by the person taking the sample and the occupier or his agent 
or person; 

 
(d) send without delay, the container or the containers to the laboratory established or 

recognised by the Central Government under section 12. 
 

(4) When a sample is taken for analysis under sub-section (1) and the person taking the sample 
serves on the occupier or his agent or person, a notice under clause (a) of sub-section (3), then: – 

 
(a) in a case where the occupier, his agent or person wilfully absents himself, the person taking 

the sample shall collect the sample for analysis to be placed in a container or containers 
which shall be marked and sealed and shall also be signed by the person taking the sample, 
and 

 
(b) in a case where the occupier or his agent or person present at the time of taking the sample 

refuses to sign the marked and sealed container or containers of the sample as required 
under clause (c) of sub-section (3), the marked and sealed container or containers shall be 
signed by the person taking the samples,  

 
and the container or containers shall be sent without delay by the person taking the sample for analysis to 
the laboratory established or recognised under section 12 and such person shall inform the Government 
Analyst appointed or recognised under section 13 in writing, about the wilful absence of the occupier or 
his agent or person, or, as the case may be, his refusal to sign the container or containers. 
 
12. Environmental laboratories. –(1) The Central Government2 may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette: –  

 
(a) establish one or more environmental laboratories;  
 
(b) recognise one or more laboratories or institutes as environmental laboratories to carry out 

the functions entrusted to an environmental laboratory under this Act3. 
 

(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules specifying: 
–  

(a) the functions of the environmental laboratory;4 
 

                                                   
1 The Central Govt. has empowered 64 persons listed in the Table of Notification No.S.O.83(E) published in the Gazette of 

India No. 66 dated 16.2.1987 
2 The Central Government has delegated its powers under clause (b) of sub-section (i) of section 12 and section 13 of the Act to the 

Central Pollution Control Board vide Notification No. S.O. 145 (E) dated 21-2-91 published in the Gazette No. 128 dated 27-2-91 
 

3 The list of laboratories/institutes recognised as environmental laboratories: and the persons recognised as Govt. Analysts. 
 

4 See r. 9 of Environment (Protection) Rules,1986. 
 



The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986                                                        157  

(b) the procedure for the submission to the said laboratory of samples of air, water, soil or other 
substance for analysis or tests, the form of the laboratory report thereon and the fees payable 
for such report;1 

 
(c) such other matters as may be necessary or expedient to enable that laboratory to carry out 

its functions. 
 

13. Government Analysts. – The Central Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint 
or recognise such persons as it thinks fit and having the prescribed qualifications2 to be Government 
Analysts for the purpose of analysis of samples of air, water, soil or other substance sent for analysis to 
any environmental laboratory established or recognised under sub-section (1) of section 12. 
 
14. Reports of Government Analysts. – Any document purporting to be a report signed by a Government 
analyst may be used as evidence of the facts stated therein in any proceeding under this Act. 

 
15. Penalty for contravention of the provisions of the Act and the rules, orders and directions. – (1) 
Whoever fails to comply with or contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, or the rules made or orders 
or directions issued thereunder, shall, in respect of each such failure or contravention, be punishable with 
imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, 
or with both, and in case the failure or contravention continues, with additional fine which may extend to 
five thousand rupees for every day during which such failure or contravention continues after the 
conviction for the first such failure or contravention. 
 

(2) If the failure or contravention referred to in sub-section (1) continues beyond a period of 
one year after the date of conviction, the offender shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which 
may extend to seven years. 
 
16. Offences by companies. – (1) Where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company, 
every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was directly in charge of, and was responsible 
to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed 
to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: 

 
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any 

punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or 
that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. 
 

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has 
been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or 
connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other 
officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also deemed to be guilty of 
that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 
 

Explanation–For the purposes of this section: – 
 

(a) "company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of 
individuals; 

 
(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm. 

 
17. Offences by Government departments. – (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed 
by any Department of Government, the Head of the Department shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence 
and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly; 
 

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall render such Head of the Department liable to 
any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised 

                                                   
1 See r. 8 of Environment (Protection) Rules,1986. 
 

2 For qualifications of Govt. Analyst see r.10 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. 
 



158                                               The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986  

all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. 
 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has 

been committed by a Department of Government and it is proved that the offence has been committed 
with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any officer, other than 
the Head of the Department, such officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be 
liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 
 

 
 

CHAPTER IV 
 

MISCELLANEOUS 
 
18. Protection of action taken in good faith. – No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie 
against the Government or any officer or other employee of the Government or any authority constituted 
under this Act or any member, officer or other employee of such authority in respect of anything which is 
done or intended to be done in good faith in pursuance of this Act or the rules made or orders or directions 
issued thereunder. 
 
19. Cognizance of offences. – No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except on 
a complaint made by: - 
 

(a) the Central Government or any authority or officer authorised in this behalf by that 
Government1; or 

 
(b) any person who has given notice of not less than sixty days, in the manner prescribed, of 

the alleged offence and of his intention to make a complaint, to the Central Government or 
the authority or officer authorised as aforesaid. 

 
20. Information, reports or returns. – The Central Government may, in relation to its function under this 
Act, from time to time, require any person, officer, State Government or other authority to furnish to it or 
any prescribed authority or officer any reports, returns, statistics, accounts and other information and such 
person, officer, State Government or other authority shall be bound to do so. 
 
21. Members, officers and employees of the authority constituted under section 3 to be public 
servants. – All the members of the authority, constituted, if any, under section 3 and all officers and other 
employees of such authority when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any provisions of this Act or 
the rules made or orders or directions issued thereunder shall be deemed to be public servants within the 
meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.  
 
22. Bar of jurisdiction. – No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in 
respect of anything done, action taken or order or direction issued by the Central Government or any other 
authority or officer in pursuance of any power conferred by or in relation to its or his functions under this 
Act. 
 
23. Powers to delegate. – Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 3, the Central 
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, delegate, subject to such conditions and 
limitations as may be specified in the notification, such of its powers and functions under this Act [except 
the powers to constitute an authority under sub-section (3) of section 3 and to make rules under section 
25] as it may deem necessary or expedient, to any officer, State Government or other authority.  

 
24. Effect of other laws. – (2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the provisions of this Act and 
the rules or orders made there in shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith 

                                                   
1 In exercise of powers conferred under clause (a) of section l9, the Central Government has authorised the officers and authorities 

listed in the Table of Notification No. S.O. 394 (E) published in the Gazette No. 185 dated 16-4-87, S.O. 237(E) published in the 
Gazette No. 171 dated 29-3-89 and S.O. 656(E) dated 21-8-89 published in the Gazette No. 519 dated 21-8-89, S.O.624(E), 
dated 3.9.1996 and G.S.R.587(E), dated 1.9.2006. 

 



The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986                                                        159  

contained in any enactment other than this Act. 
 

(2) Where any act or omission constitutes an offence punishable under this Act and also under 
any other Act then the offender found guilty of such offence shall be liable to be punished under the other 
Act and not under this Act. 
 
25. Power to make rules. – (1) The Central Government may, by notification in Official Gazette, make 
rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may 
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: – 
 

(a) the standards in excess of which environmental pollutants shall not be discharged or emitted 
under section 71; 

 
(b) the procedure in accordance with and the safeguards in compliance with which hazardous 

substances shall be handled or cause to be handled under section 8;2 
 
(c) the authorities or agencies to which intimation of the fact of occurrence or apprehension of 

occurrence of the discharge of any environmental pollutant in excess of the prescribed 
standards shall be given and to whom all assistance shall be bound to be rendered under 
sub-section (1) of section 9;3 

 
(d) the manner in which samples of air, water, soil or other substance for the purpose of analysis 

shall be taken under sub-section (1) of section 11;4 
 
(e) the form in which notice of intention to have a sample analysed shall be served under clause 

(a) of sub section (3) of section 11;5 
 
(f) the functions of the environmental laboratories,6 the procedure for the submission to such 

laboratories of samples of air, water, soil and other substances for analysis or test;
7 the form 

of laboratory report; the fees payable for such report and other matters to enable such 
laboratories to carry out their functions under sub-section (2) of section 12; 

 
(g) the qualifications of Government Analyst appointed or recognised for the purpose of 

analysis of samples of air, water, soil or other substances under section 13;8 
 
(h) the manner in which notice of the offence and of the intention to make a complaint to the 

Central Government shall be given under clause (b) of section 19;9 
 

                                                   
1 See Rule 3 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and Schedule-I. 
 

2 See r.13 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, and 
i. Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008 
ii. Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989; and 
iii. Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically- engineered 

organisms or Cells Rules,1989. 
 

3 For autho rities or agencies see r.12 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and Schedule-II. 
 

4 See r. 6 of Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. 
 

5 See r. 7 of Environment (Protection) Rules,1986. 
 

6 SeeSee r. 9 of Environment (Protection) Rules,1986. 
 

7 For the procedure for submission of samples to laboratories and the form of laboratory report see r. 8 of Environment 
(Protection) Rules,1986. 

 

8 See r. 10 of Environment (Protection) Rules,1986. 
 

9 See r. 11 of Environment (protection) Rules,1986. 
 



160                                               The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986  

(i) the authority of officer to whom any reports, returns, statistics, accounts and other 
information shall be furnished under section 20; 

 
(j) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed. 

26. Rules made under this act to be laid before Parliament. – Every rule made under this Act shall be 
laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total 
period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and 
if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, 
both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be 
made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may 
be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of 
anything previously done under that rule. 

 
 

 
 
This Act of Parliament received the assent of the President of India on the 23rd May, 1986: –