SC recalls order on post-facto green clearance

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday recalled its May 16 judgment that had prohibited the Centre from granting retrospective Environmental Clearances (ECs) to projects that had violated environmental norms.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY

The court’s decision came by a 2:1 majority, with the dissenting judge saying it overlooks the fundamentals of environmental jurisprudence.

The earlier ruling, popularly known as the Vanshakti judgment, had barred the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) from issuing ex post facto approvals for projects already operating in violation of the law.

Following the verdict, nearly 40 review and modification pleas flooded the top court, urging it to reconsider the impact.