India, Aug. 22 -- The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to allow bakery owners more time to switch from conventional coal-based fuel to cleaner fuels, stating that those who had not met the July 8 deadline set by the court would have to shut.

Observing that individual hardship cannot override the larger public interest to the right to a clean environment, the court ordered the closure of bakeries that fail to comply with the earlier orders.

A division bench of Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe delivered the order while dismissing a plea filed by 12 bakery owners, who had sought an extension of the deadline. The application had also sought orders restraining the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from taking ...