The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

1. (1) This Act may be called the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of India.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date 1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and for different areas.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--

1. (a) "environment" includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among and between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property;
2. (b) "environmental pollutant" means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such concentration as may be, or tend to be, injurious to environment;
3. (c) " environmental pollution" means the presence in the environment of any environmental pollutant; 1[(ca) "Fund" means the Environmental Protection Fund established under section 16;]
4. (d) "handling", in relation to any substance, means the manufacture, processing, treatment, package, storage, transportation, use, collection, destruction, conversion, offering for sale, transfer or the like of such substance;
5. (e) "hazardous substance" means any substance or preparation which, by reason of its chemical or physico-chemical properties or handling, is liable to cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism, property or the environment;
6. (f) "occupier", in relation to any factory or premises, means a person who has control over the affairs of the factory or the premises and includes, in relation to any substance, the person in possession of the substance;
7. (g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government shall have the power to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution.
2. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), such measures may include measures with respect to all or any of the following matters, namely:--
   • (i) co-ordination of actions by the State Governments, officers and other authorities--
   • (a) under this Act, or the rules made thereunder; or
   • (b) under any other law for the time being in force which is relatable to the objects of this Act;
     • (ii) planning and execution of a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution;
     • (iii) laying down standards for the quality of environment in its various aspects;
     • (iv) laying down standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources whatsoever: Provided that different standards for emission or discharge may be laid down under this clause from different sources having regard to the quality or composition of the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from such sources;
     • (v) restriction of areas in which any industries, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards;
     • (vi) laying down procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental pollution and remedial measures for such accidents;
     • (vii) laying down procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances;
     • (viii) examination of such manufacturing processes, materials and substances as are likely to cause environmental pollution;
     • (ix) carrying out and sponsoring investigations and research relating to problems of environmental pollution;
     • (x) inspection of any premises, plant, equipment, machinery, manufacturing or other processes, materials or substances and giving, by order, of such directions to such authorities, officers or persons as it may consider necessary to take steps for the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution;
     • (xi) establishment or recognition of environmental laboratories and institutes to carry out the functions entrusted to such environmental laboratories and institutes under this Act;
     • (xii) collection and dissemination of information in respect of matters relating to environmental pollution;
     • (xiii) preparation of manuals, codes or guides relating to the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution;
     • (xiv) such other matters as the Central Government deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of securing the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.
3. (3) The Central Government may, if it considers it necessary or expedient so to do for the purposes of this Act, by order, published in the Official Gazette, constitute an authority or authorities by such name or names as may be specified in the order for the purpose of exercising and performing such of the powers and functions (including the power to issue directions under section 5) of the Central Government under this Act and for taking measures with respect to such of the matters referred to in sub-section (2) as may be mentioned in the order and subject to the supervision and control of the Central Government and the provisions of such order, such authority or authorities may exercise the powers or perform the functions or take the measures so mentioned in the order as if such authority or authorities had been empowered by this Act to exercise those powers or perform those functions or take such measures.

1. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 3, the Central Government may appoint officers with such designations as it thinks fit for the purposes of this Act and may entrust to them such of the powers and functions under this Act as it may deem fit.
2. (2) The officers appointed under sub-section (1) shall be subject to the general control and direction of the Central Government or, if so directed by that Government, also of the authority or authorities, if any, constituted under sub-section (3) of section 3 or of any other authority or officer.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law but subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, in the exercise of its powers and performance of its functions under this Act, issue directions in writing to any person, officer or any authority and such person, officer or authority shall be bound to comply with such directions. Explanation.--For the avoidance of doubts, it is hereby declared that the power to issue directions under this section includes the power to direct--

1. (a) the closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process; or
2. (b) stoppage or regulation of the supply of electricity or water or any other service.

1[ 5A. Appeal to National Green Tribunal.—Any person aggrieved by any directions issues under section 5, on or after the commencement of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, may file an appeal to the National Green Tribunal established under section 3 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, in accordance with the provisions of that Act.]

1. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules in respect of all or any of the matters referred to in section 3.
2. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:--
   • (a) the standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas and purposes;
   • (b) the maximum allowable limits of concentration of various environmental pollutants (including noise) for different areas;
   • (c) the procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances;
   • (d) the prohibition and restrictions on the handling of hazardous substances in different areas;
   • (e) the prohibition and restrictions on the location of industries and the carrying on of processes and operations in different areas;
   • (f) the procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental pollution and for providing for remedial measures for such accidents.

No person carrying on any industry, operation or process shall discharge or emit or permit to be discharged or emitted any environmental pollutant in excess or such standards as may be prescribed.

No person shall handle or cause to be handled any hazardous substance except in accordance with such procedure and after complying with such safeguards as may be prescribed.

1. (1) Where the discharge of any environmental pollutant in excess of the prescribed standards occurs or is apprehended to occur due to any accident or other unforeseen act or event, the person responsible for such discharge and the person in charge of the place at which such discharge occurs or is apprehended to occur shall be bound to prevent or mitigate the environmental pollution caused as a result of such discharge and shall also forthwith--
   • (a) intimate the fact of such occurrence or apprehension of such occurrence; and
   • (b) be bound, if called upon, to render all assistance, to such authorities or agencies as may be prescribed.
2. (2) On receipt of information with respect to the fact or apprehension of any occurrence of the nature referred to in sub-section (1), whether through intimation under that sub-section or otherwise, the authorities or agencies referred to in sub-section (1) shall, as early as practicable, cause such remedial measures to be taken as are necessary to prevent or mitigate the environmental pollution.
3. (3) The expenses, if any, incurred by any authority or agency with respect to the remedial measures referred to in sub-section (2), together with interest (at such reasonable rate as the Government may, by order, fix) from the date when a demand for the expenses is made until it is paid, may be recovered by such authority or agency from the person concerned as arrears of land revenue or of public demand.

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person empowered by the Central Government in this behalf shall have a right to enter, at all reasonable times with such assistance as he considers necessary, any place--
   • (a) for the purpose of performing any of the functions of the Central Government entrusted to him;
   • (b) for the purpose of determining whether and if so in what manner, any such functions are to be performed or whether any provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or any notice, order, direction or authorisation served, made, given or granted under this Act is being or has been complied with;
   • (c) for the purpose of examining and testing any equipment, industrial plant, record, register, document or any other material object or for conducting a search of any building in which he has reason to believe that an offence under this Act or the rules made thereunder has been or is being or is about to be committed and for seizing any such equipment, industrial plant, record, register, document or other material object if he has reasons to believe that it may furnish evidence of the commission of an offence punishable under this Act or the rules made thereunder or that such seizure is necessary to prevent or mitigate environmental pollution. 1[(2) Every person carrying on any industry, operation or process of handling any hazardous substance shall render assistance, as may be required, to the person empowered by the Central Government under sub-section (1) for carrying out the functions under that sub-section and if he fails to do so without any reasonable cause, he shall be liable to penalty provided under section 14B.
2. (3) If any person willfully delays or obstructs any person empowered by the Central Government under sub-section (1) in the performance of his functions under sub-sections (1) or (2), he shall be liable to penalty provided under section 14B.
3. (4) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), shall, so far as may be, apply to any search or seizures under this section as they apply to any search or seizures made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 94 of that Code.]

1. (1) The Central Government or any officer empowered by it in this behalf, shall have power to take, for the purpose of analysis, samples of air, water, soil or other substance from any factory, premises or other place in such manner as may be prescribed.
2. (2) The result of any analysis of a sample taken under sub-section (1) shall not be admissible in evidence in any legal proceeding unless the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4) are complied with.
3. (3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), the person taking the sample under sub-section (1) shall,--
   • (a) serve on the occupier or his agent or person in charge of the place, a notice, then and there, in such form as may be prescribed, of his intention to have it so analysed;
   • (b) in the presence of the occupier or his agent or person, collect a sample for analysis;
   • (c) cause the sample to be placed in a container or containers which shall be marked and sealed and shall also be signed both by the person taking the sample and the occupier or his agent or person;
   • (d) send without delay, the container or the containers to the laboratory established or recognised by the Central Government under section 12.
4. (4) When a sample is taken for analysis under sub-section (1) and the person taking the sample serves on the occupier or his agent or person, a notice under clause (a) of sub-section (3), then,--
   • (a) in a case where the occupier, his agent or person wilfully absents himself, the person taking the sample shall collect the sample for analysis to be placed in a container or containers which shall be marked and sealed and shall also be signed by the person taking the sample, and
   • (b) in a case where the occupier or his agent or person present at the time of taking the sample refuses to sign the marked and sealed container or containers of the sample as required under clause (c) of sub-section (3), the marked and sealed container or containers shall be signed by the person taking the samples, and the container or containers shall be sent without delay by the person taking the sample for analysis to the laboratory established or recognised under section 12 and such person shall inform the Government Analyst appointed or recognised under section 13 in writing, about the wilful absence of the occupier or his agent or person, or, as the case may be, his refusal to sign the container or containers.

1. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,--
   • (a) establish one or more environmental laboratories;
   • (b) recognise one or more laboratories or institutes as environmental laboratories to carry out the functions entrusted to an environmental laboratory under this Act.
2. (2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules specifying
   • (a) the functions of the environmental laboratory;
   • (b) the procedure for the submission to the said laboratory of samples of air, water, soil or other substance for analysis or tests, the form of the laboratory report thereon and the fees payable for such report;
   • (c) such other matters as may be necessary or expedient to enable that laboratory to carry out its functions.

The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint or recognise such persons as it thinks fit and having the prescribed qualifications to be Government Analysts for the purpose of analysis of samples of air, water, soil or other substance sent for analysis to any environmental laboratory established or recognised under sub-section (1) of section 12.

Any document purporting to be a report signed by a Government Analyst may be used as evidence of the facts stated therein in any proceeding under this Act.

1[14A. Penalty for contravention of section 7 or section 8.--(1) If any person, contravenes provisions of section 7 or section 8 or the rules made thereunder, he shall be liable to penalty in respect of each such contravention, which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees

1. (2) Where any person continues contravention under sub-section (1), he shall be liable to additional penalty of fifty thousand rupees for every day during which such contravention continues.]

1[14B. Penalty for contravention of sections 9, 10 and 11.--(1) If any person contravenes or does not comply with the provisions of section 9, section 10 or section 11 or orders or directions issued under those sections, he shall be liable to penalty in respect of each such contravention which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to five lakh rupees.

1. (2) Where any person continues contravention under sub-section (1), he shall be liable to additional penalty of ten thousand rupees for every day during which such contravention continues.]

1[15. Penalty for contravention of provisions of Act, rules, orders and directions.--(1) Where any person contravenes or does not comply with any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made or orders or directions issued thereunder for which no penalty is provided, he shall be liable to penalty in respect of each such contravention which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to fifteen lakh rupees.

1. (2) Where any person continues contravention under sub-section (1), he shall be liable to additional penalty of ten thousand rupees for every day during which such contravention continues.]

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.

1. (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.]

1[15B. Penalty for contravention by Government Department.--(1) Where contravention of any of the provision of this Act has been committed by any Department of the Central Government or the State Government, the Head of the Department shall be liable to penalty equal to one month of his basic salary: Provided that he shall not be liable for such contravention, if he proves that the contravention was committed without his knowledge or instructions or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent such contravention

1. (2) Where any contravention under sub-section (1) is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any officer, other than the Head of the Department, the officer shall be liable to penalty equal to one month of his basic salary: Provided that he shall not be liable for the contravention, if he proves that he exercised all due diligence to avoid such contravention.]

1[15C. Adjudicating officer.--(1) The Central Government, for the purposes of determining the penalties under this Act, may appoint an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India or a Secretary to the State Government to be the adjudicating officer, to hold an inquiry and to impose penalty in the manner, as may be prescribed: Provided that the Central Government may appoint as many adjudicating officers as may be required.

1. (2) The adjudicating officer may--
   • (a) call upon any person alleged to have contravened or not complied with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder or having the knowledge of the facts and circumstances of the case;
   • (b) require such person to produce any record, register or other document in his possession or any other document, which in the opinion of the adjudicating officer may be relevant to the subjectmatter.
2. (3) The adjudicating officer shall, after giving the person a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter, and if, on such inquiry, he is satisfied that the person concerned has contravened or has not complied with the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, he may impose such penalty as he thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of sections 14A, 14B, 15, 15A or section 15B, as the case may be
3. (4) The adjudicating officer, while adjudicating the quantum of penalty under sub-section (3), shall have due regard to the following, namely:--
   • (a) the population and the area impacted or affected due to such contravention or noncompliance;
   • (b) the frequency and duration of such contravention or non-compliance;
   • (c) the vulnerability of the class of persons likely to be adversely affected by such contravention or non-compliance;
   • (d) the damage caused or likely to be caused to any person, as a result of such contravention or non-compliance, if any;
   • (e) the undue gain derived out of such contravention or non-compliance; and
   • (f) such other factor, as may be prescribed
4. (5) The amount of penalty imposed under the provisions of sections 14A, 14B, 15, 15A or 15B, as the case may be, shall be in addition to the liability to pay relief or compensation under section 15 read with section 17 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (19 of 2010).]

1[15D. Appeal--(1) Whoever aggrieved by the order, passed by the adjudicating officer under this Act may prefer an appeal to the National Green Tribunal established under section 3 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (19 of 2010).

1. (2) Every appeal under sub-section (1) shall be filed within sixty days from the date on which the copy of the order made by the adjudicating officer is received by the aggrieved person.
2. (3) The Tribunal may, after giving the parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard, pass such order as it thinks fit, confirming, modifying or setting aside the order appealed against.
3. (4) Where an appeal is preferred against any order of the adjudicating officer under sub-section (1), such appeal shall not be entertained by the Tribunal unless such person has deposited with the Tribunal ten per cent. of the amount of the penalty imposed by the adjudicating officer.]

1[15E. Penalty amount to be credited to Environmental Protection Fund.--Where any penalty or additional penalty, as the case may be, is imposed under sections 14A, 14B, 15, 15A or section 15B, the amount of the penalty shall be credited to the Environmental Protection Fund established under section 16.]

1[15F. Offence for failure to pay penalty or additional penalty.--(1) Where any person fails to pay the penalty or additional penalty, as the case may be, under sections 14A, 14B, 15, 15A or section 15B within ninety days of such imposition, he shall be liable for imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to twice the amount of the penalty or with both.

1. (2) Where any offence under sub-section (1) has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was directly in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of offence and he shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any person liable to any punishment provided in sub-section (1), if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
2. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), where an offence has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.--For the purposes of this section,--
   • (a) "company" includes body corporate, firm, trust, society and any other association of individuals;
   • (b) "director" includes director of the company, partner of the firm, members of the society or trust or member of any association of individuals, as the case may be.]

1[CHAPTER IIIA FUND, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 16. Environmental Protection Fund.--(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a fund to be known as the Environmental Protection Fund.

1. (2) There shall be credited to the Fund
   • (a) the amount of penalty imposed under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981), and under this Act;
   • (b) the interest or other income received out of investments made from the Fund; and
   • (c) any other amount from such sources, as may be prescribed.
2. (3) The Fund shall be applied for--
   • (a) the promotion of awareness, education and research for the protection of environment;
   • (b) the expenses for achieving the objects and for purposes of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981(14 of 1981) and under this Act;
   • (c) such other purposes, as may be prescribed.
3. (4) The Central Government shall notify the administrator for the administration of the Fund and other matters connected therewith and incidental thereto in such manner, as may be prescribed.
4. (5) The Central Government shall allocate seventy-five per cent. of the amount of penalties to the State Governments or Union territory administrations, which has been credited to the Fund.

1[16A. Accounts and audit of Fund.--(1) The Central Government shall maintain separate accounts and other relevant records in relation to the Environmental Protection Fund and prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form, as may be prescribed, in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India

1. (2) The accounts of the Fund shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at such intervals as may be specified by him and such audited accounts together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government.]

1[16B. Annual report.--The Central Government shall prepare its annual report in relation to Environmental Protection Fund giving a full account of its activities defined under this Act in such form, as may be prescribed, for each financial year during the previous financial year, and shall be laid before each House of Parliament along with audit report given by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.]

1. (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by any Department of Government, the Head of the Department shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that nothing contained in this section shall render such Head of the Department liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
2. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a Department of Government and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any officer, other than the Head of the Department, such officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Government or any officer or other employee of the Government or any authority constituted under this Act or any member, officer or other employee of such authority in respect of anything which is done or intended to be done in good faith in pursuance of this Act or the rules made or orders or directions issued thereunder.

No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except on a complaint made by,--

1. (a) the Central Government or any authority or officer authorised in this behalf by that Government; or 1[(aa) adjudicating officer or any officer authorised by him in this behalf;]
2. (b) any person who has given notice of not less than sixty days, in the manner prescribed, of the alleged offence and of his intention to make a complaint, to the Central Government or the authority or officer authorised as aforesaid.

The Central Government may, in relation to its functions under this Act, from time to time, require any person, officer, State Government or other authority to furnish to it or any prescribed authority or officer any reports, returns, statistics, accounts and other information and such person, officer, State Government or other authority shall be bound to do so.

All the members of the authority, constituted, if any, under section 3 and all officers and other employees of such authority when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any provisions of this Act or the rules made or orders or directions issued thereunder shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of anything done, action taken or order or direction issued by the Central Government or any other authority or officer in pursuance of any power conferred by or in relation to its or his functions under this Act.

Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 3, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, delegate, subject to such conditions and limitations as may be specified in the notification, such of its powers and functions under this Act [except the power to constitute an authority under sub-section (3) of section 3 and to make rules under section 25] as it may deem necessary or expedient, to any officer, State Government or other authority.

1[24. Effect of other laws.--The provisions of this Act and the rules or orders made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force.]

1. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
2. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:--
   • (a) the standards in excess of which environmental pollutants shall not be discharged or emitted under section 7;
   • (b) the procedure in accordance with and the safeguards in compliance with which hazardous substances shall be handled or cause to be handled under section 8;
   • (c) the authorities or agencies to which intimation of the fact of occurrence or apprehension of occurrence of the discharge of any environmental pollutant in excess of the prescribed standards shall be given and to whom all assistance shall be bound to be rendered under sub-section (1) of section 9;
   • (d) the manner in which samples of air, water, soil or other substance for the purpose of analysis shall be taken under sub-section (1) of section 11;
   • (e) the form in which notice of intention to have a sample analysed shall be served under clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 11;
   • (f) the functions of the environmental laboratories, the procedure for the submission to such laboratories of samples of air, water, soil and other substances for analysis or test; the form of laboratory report; the fees payable for such report and other matters to enable such laboratories to carry out their functions under sub-section (2) of section 12;
   • (g) the qualifications of Government Analyst appointed or recognised for the purpose of analysis of samples of air, water, soil or other substances under section 13; 1[(ga) the manner of holding inquiry and imposing penalty by the adjudicating officer under sub-section (1) and other factors for determining quantum of penalty under clause (f) of sub-section (4) of section 15C;
   • (gb) the other amount under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 16;
   • (gc) the other purposes under clause (c) of sub-section (3) of section 16;
   • (gd) the manner of administration of Fund under sub-section (4) of section 16;
   • (ge) form for maintenance of accounts of the Fund and for preparation of annual statement of accounts under sub-section (1) of section 16A;
   • (gf) form for preparing annual report of the Fund under section 16B;]
   • (h) the manner in which notice of the offence and of the intention to make a complaint to the Central Government shall be given under clause (b) of section 19;
     • (i) the authority or officer to whom any reports, returns, statistics accounts and other information shall be furnished under section 20;
   • (j) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.

Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.