<h1>Section 15 limits on environmental penalty powers: Rs 50 crore fine set aside for disproportionate turnover-based calculation</h1> The apex court set aside a tribunal's Rs 50 crore environmental penalty imposed on a handicraft exporter, finding the fine-calculated solely by reference to the company's turnover-lacked legal foundation and breached principles of proportional adjudication. The court criticized the tribunal's methodology for levying penalties based on revenue, rejected sweeping closure directions despite acknowledged non-compliance, and held that the tribunal exceeded its powers in directing a money-laundering probe, observing tribunals must act within Section 15 of the NGT Act. The court preserved pollution-control boards' rights to impose or recover environmental compensation and to monitor compliance, and left open statutory challenge routes subject to limitation.