Supreme Court to Review Landmark Verdict on Retrospective Environmental Clearances
The Supreme Court will review a May 16 verdict that invalidated retrospective environmental clearances, impacting over 25 firms. The decision marked this practice as unlawful, highlighting a constitutional duty to protect the environment under Article 21. The court will hear the pleas on October 7.
- Country:
- India
The Supreme Court has agreed to review more than twenty pleas seeking to re-evaluate its May 16 verdict invalidating the Centre's retrospective environmental clearances. The original ruling, penned by former Justice A S Oka, prohibited the Ministry of Environment and allied bodies from granting clearances post-factum, citing the fundamental right to a pollution-free environment.
Representing 25 companies, including public sector giant Steel Authority of India Ltd, advocates have sought modifications or clarifications on the judgment. Among the petitioners is Kumar Organic Products Limited, whose legal team requested clarity on the status of clearances filed before the court's May ruling but pending due to unavoidable delays.
A panel, including Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran, is slated to hear these cases on October 7. The May 16 decision had invalidated certain circulars as unconstitutional, arguing the ex post facto clearances violated both the Environment Protection Act and fundamental environmental jurisprudence.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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