Supreme Court Relaxes Stance on Environmental Clearances Amid Controversy

The Supreme Court's decision to recall its ban on retrospective environmental clearances has sparked criticism. A narrow majority allowed for reconsideration of the ruling, despite concerns from dissenting justices and political figures. Critics argue the move undermines legal accountability for environmental guidelines infringement.

The Supreme Court ignited debate this week by recalling its previous ban on granting retrospective environmental clearances, a controversial move met with disapproval from both dissenting justices and political parties.

In a 2:1 majority decision, the court decided to reconsider the previous ruling, arguing that significant public projects worth billions would face demolition without such administrative flexibility. However, critics including Congress's Jairam Ramesh called the decision disappointing and warned it sends a discouraging message on legal accountability for environmental violations.

While Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran favored reviewing the ban, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan strongly dissented, denouncing the concept as fundamentally incompatible with environmental jurisprudence. The debate highlights a crucial tension between economic development and strict adherence to environmental laws.

(With inputs from agencies.)