Supreme Court Hears Pleas on Retrospective Environmental Clearances Amid Judicial Criticism

The Supreme Court resumed hearings on pleas challenging retrospective environmental clearances (EC) granted to projects violating norms, following a 2023 interim order allowing such clearances to avoid demolition of public projects worth nearly Rs 20,000 crore. Senior advocates opposed retrospective EC, citing lack of legal backing. Separately, former Supreme Court judge Deepak Gupta criticized courts for prioritizing procedural compliance over environmental protection, citing cases like the Great Nicobar project and Vantara, and questioned compensatory afforestation practices and the effectiveness of the National Green Tribunal.