What we know about Supreme Court post-facto green clearance ban so far

The Supreme Court barred the use of administrative orders to grant retrospective environmental clearances for projects that started without approval.

The ruling leaves open a legal route through the Environment (Protection) Act, potentially allowing post-facto clearances in the future.

Post-facto clearances regularize past violations by granting environmental approval after construction or operation has begun.

Projects already cleared under the now-invalidated regime, including hospitals, medical colleges, an airport, and irrigation works, are spared by the verdict.

Critics, including petitioner Vanashakti, argue that post-facto clearance undermines environmental protection by failing to prevent damage before it occurs.

The Supreme Court permanently barred the government from granting post-facto environmental clearances.

The court quashed the 2021 Office Memorandum that kept a window open for post-facto clearances.

Projects worth Rs 20,000 crore were saved from demolition, but prior environmental clearance under the 2006 notification is now mandatory.

The judgment will operate prospectively, validating past clearances granted under the 2017 notification and 2021 OM.