Supreme Court of India issues rulings on NGT, nightclub fire, and acid sales

The Supreme Court of India addressed several distinct legal matters on Monday. Regarding environmental oversight, the NGT Bar Association warned that three zonal benches of the National Green Tribunal could become non-functional after September 8 due to the expiry of members' tenures. The Association noted that the NGT Act requires more than one member per bench, and the current extension is set to expire soon.

In a criminal matter, the Supreme Court upheld the cancellation of bail for the three co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa. The owners, Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, and Ajay Gupta, were ordered to surrender within two weeks following a December 2025 fire that killed 25 people. The court directed the trial court to expedite the framing of charges.

Additionally, the Court called for stricter regulations regarding the retail sale of acid. Following submissions from an acid attack survivor and legal counsel, the bench requested the Union government to consider a scheme to ensure strict regulation and prevent easy availability, noting that existing 2013 guidelines have seen implementation failures.