Penalty for contravention by companies
Section 15A of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 deals with penalty for contravention by companies. Where any company contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, the company shall be liable to penalty for each such contravention which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees. The Act came into force on 19 Nov 1986.
1[15A. Penalty for contravention by companies.--(1) Where any company contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, the company shall be liable to penalty for each such contravention which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees.
(2) Where any company continues contravention under sub-section (1), the company shall be liable to additional penalty of one lakh rupees for every day during which such contravention continues.]
Section 15A, The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (Act 29 of 1986).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Vanashakti vs Union Of India
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The prior environmental clearance regime under the 2006 Notification is mandatory and gives expression to the precautionary principle. While breach of this regime attracts civil penalties under Section 15 of the 1986 Act and by necessary implication leads to restoration of status quo ante including closure, demolition, remediation and recovery of costs, the Central Government possesses power under Section 3 of the 1986 Act to issue a narrowly tailored, time-bound, delegated legislation carving an exception to the prior EC requirement in appropriate cases where a supervening public interest justifies controlled continuance subject to stringent appraisal, damage assessment, remediation, compensatory liability and future compliance. Such an exception must satisfy the constitutional tests of reasonable classification under Article 14 and proportionality under Article 21. However, an administrative instruction cannot supplant the 2006 Notification or create a perpetual amnesty regime applicable to all permissible projects without intelligible differentia bearing rational nexus to supervening public interest. The 2017 Notification is valid as such a narrowly tailored exception, but the 2021 Office Memorandum is invalid as it fails the proportionality test by being unlimited in time and class.
On this section: Prescribes enhanced penalties for contraventions by companies
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 15A
What have the courts held on Section 15A of the Environment (Protection) Act?
Vanashakti vs Union Of India (29 Jul 2026) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Prescribes enhanced penalties for contraventions by companies.
How do I find court cases under Section 15A of the Environment (Protection) Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Environment Act 15A, section 15A Environment Act, section 15A of the Environment (Protection) Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Vanashakti vs Union Of India (29 Jul 2026).
What should I read with Section 15A of the Environment (Protection) Act, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently SO 418(E) dated 18-07-2024-Draft Notification for Amendment in EIA Notification 2006 (2024).
When did Section 15A of the Environment (Protection) Act come into force?
Section 15A of the Environment (Protection) Act, cited as Environment Act 15A, came into force on 19 Nov 1986, having been enacted on 23 May 1986. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 3. Power of Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environment580 words
- 25. Power to make rules447 words
- 11. Power to take sample and procedure to be followed in connection therewith420 words
- 15C. Adjudicating officer379 words
- 10. Powers of entry and inspection369 words
- 15F. Offence for failure to pay penalty or additional penalty310 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.