Supreme Court Revisits Environmental Justice to Protect Public Projects

The Supreme Court has reversed its previous ruling, allowing retrospective environmental clearances for projects violating environmental norms upon paying penalties. This move has saved significant public investments from demolition but sparked debate on environmental governance and sustainability principles.

In a pivotal reversal, the Supreme Court has paved the way for retrospective environmental clearances, sparing numerous vital public projects from demolition. The projects in question, which include an AIIMS in Odisha and a greenfield airport in Karnataka, were at risk after a previous ruling barred retrospective approvals.

By a 2:1 majority, the top court has turned back a decision that threatened nearly Rs 20,000 crore worth of public infrastructure. Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran underscored the potential wastage of public funds and aforementioned catastrophic impacts on public interest if the projects were dismantled.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan dissented, voicing concerns about sustainability, calling the move a regression. He highlighted the importance of stringent environmental compliance, even in the face of economic considerations. This development rekindles debate over environmental law's balance between precautionary measures and pragmatic governance.

(With inputs from agencies.)