Supreme Court Strikes Down Ex-Post-Facto Environmental Clearances: A Win for Environmental Justice

📝 Detailed Update (May 19, 2025)

• What happened?
  The Supreme Court invalidated the 2017 notification and 2021 memorandum that allowed industries to obtain environmental clearance after starting the project— deeming it unconstitutional insightsonindia.com.
• Legal basis:
  • Violates Article 21 (Right to a clean environment)
  • Violates Article 14 (Equality) by granting one-off exceptions insightsonindia.com.
• Why it matters:
  • Reinforces the principle of precautionary environmental impact assessment
  • Brands post-facto clearances as “anathema to environmental jurisprudence” forumias.com+8insightsonindia.com+899notes.in+8insightsonindia.com+15thelawgist.org+1599notes.in+15
  • All future similar notifications are now prohibited, while past clearances remain valid.

🔍 UPSC Relevance

• GS Paper III (Environment):
  • Importance of prior environmental clearance (EIA 2006)
  • Supreme Court’s emphasis on precautionary principle & sustainable development
• GS Paper II (Polity & Governance):
  • Judicial review and protection of fundamental rights
  • Separation of powers in environmental regulation
• Potential Mains Question: Critically analyse the Supreme Court’s verdict on ex-post-facto environmental clearances. What does it signify for environmental governance and constitutional rights in India?