K’taka HC Grants Interim Stay on Removal of KSPCB Chairman

The Karnataka High Court has passed an interim stay on the State government’s corrigendum order dated August 31, which terminated the tenure of Shanth A. Thimmaiah as the Chairperson of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

This stay will remain in effect until the next hearing of Thimmaiah’s petition challenging the Government’s order.

The Court clarified that the stay does not constitute an endorsement of Thimmaiah’s continued tenure as chairperson. Instead, he will retain the position but will refrain from implementing any policy measures. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit, also instructed both the petitioner and the State to submit their written statements before the next hearing.

Thimmaiah assumed the role of chairman on November 15, 2021. However, the corrigendum order issued on August 31 asserted that his tenure concluded on March 4, 2022, and placed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology in charge of the KSPCB until the appointment of a new chairperson.