Supreme Court bars retrospective green clearances

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.