1 2026:CGHC:14650 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR CRMP No. 855 of 2026 Chhattisgarh Enviornment Conservation Board Through Its Regional Officer, Regional Office, Durg/bhilai, 5, 32 Bungalows, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh Erstwhile Known As M.P. Pollution Control Board Corporate Body, Regional Office, 22, Aanand Nagar, Raipur (C.G.) District- Raipur, Chhattisgarh. ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - Sunil Khetawat S/o H.P. Khetawat Aged About 53 Years Bhilai Wires, Lite Industrial Area, Bhilai, District- Durg (C.G.), District- Durg, Chhattisgarh. 2 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through D.M., Durg (C.G.), District- Durg, Chhattisgarh. ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Abhijeet Mishra, Advocate For Respondent No.1 : Mr. Ashish Shrivastava, Senior Advocate alongwith Mr. Ashutosh Shrivastava, Advocate For Respondent No. 2 : Mr. Ashutosh Trivedi, Panel Lawyer for the State (Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, J.) Order on Board 2 27/03/2026 1. This is an application for restoration of the Acquittal Appeal No. 1066/2024 which was dismissed for want of prosecution on 16.02.2026. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that due to unavoidable reason, he could not appeared in the case when the matter was called for hearing on 16.02.2026 and the same has been dismissed for want of prosecution. 3. The matter pertains to acquittal of the respondent No.1 from the offence under Section 24/44 of the Water Act, 1974 and it requires hearing on merits. 4. On due consideration and for the reasons mentioned in the application, the same is allowed and the Acquittal Appeal No. 1066/2024 is restored to its original number. 5. The present CRMP is disposed of. Sd/- (Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) JUDGE Sumit