{"id":166402,"date":"2025-05-17T20:42:36","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T15:12:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=166402"},"modified":"2025-05-17T20:42:36","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T15:12:36","slug":"environmental-clearances","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/environmental-clearances","title":{"rendered":"No Retrospective Environmental Clearances"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has ruled that<\/span><b> retrospective Environmental Clearances (ECs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are illegal, emphasizing the need for prior <\/span><b>ECs under Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) norms.<\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.4988%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>EIA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the process of determining the anticipated environmental effects of a proposed project or development, taking into account interconnected socioeconomic, cultural, and human-health aspects, both positive and negative.<\/span><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Supreme Court Judgment on Post-Facto Clearances under EIA Rules<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court declared the grant of <\/span><b>ex post facto or retrospective ECs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a<\/span><b> gross illegality <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span><b> inconsistent with core environmental principles.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court <\/span><b>struck down the 2017 Notification and 2021 Office Memorandum (OM)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and related circulars, which<\/span><b> effectively permitted retrospective ECs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, calling them <\/span><b>arbitrary and unconstitutional.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it <\/span><b>upheld the validity of ECs already granted<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the<\/span><b> 2017 and 2021 instruments,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> thereby <\/span><b>protecting past approvals from retrospective nullification.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.698%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>\u201cPolluter Pays\u201d principle<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201cPolluter Pays\u201d principle holds that those <\/span><b>who produce pollution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should<\/span><b> bear the costs of managing it<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to prevent environmental damage.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It<\/span><b> ensures accountability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by making polluters financially responsible for the harm they cause to the environment, promoting sustainable practices and legal compliance.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-166393\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/172-68288f33c06ad.webp\" alt=\"Environmental Clearances\" width=\"660\" height=\"369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/172-68288f33c06ad.webp 1091w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/172-68288f33c06ad-300x168.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/172-68288f33c06ad-1024x573.webp 1024w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/172-68288f33c06ad-768x429.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Environmental Justice vs. Ease of Business<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The judgment highlights a <\/span><b>clear preference for environmental protection over regulatory leniency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that might benefit businesses operating without clearance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court noted that the <\/span><b>Centre had engaged in \u201ccrafty drafting\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to enable retrospective clearances, thereby <\/span><b>shielding violators from accountability.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-166394 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/173-68288f33603ee.webp\" alt=\"Environmental Clearances\" width=\"370\" height=\"507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/173-68288f33603ee.webp 446w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/173-68288f33603ee-219x300.webp 219w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px\" \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It warned against compromising environmental standards <\/span><b>under the guise of facilitating development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, stressing that true development includes environmental conservation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ruling reinforces that <\/span><b>environmental clearance must precede any construction or expansion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, regardless of <\/span><b>economic or administrative convenience.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Violation of the \u201cPolluter Pays\u201d Principle<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Retrospective ECs were seen as <\/span><b>undermining the foundational \u201cpolluter pays\u201d principle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as they retroactively <\/span><b>legalized illegal activities without penal consequences.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court observed that such clearances <\/span><b>incentivize environmental violations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by allowing entities to operate without prior scrutiny or accountability.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Permitting<\/span><b> post-facto ECs <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">would<\/span><b> normalize and institutionalize environmental violations, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contrary to both law and public interest.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court emphasised that\u00a0 <\/span><b>prior EC is vital<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as it involves <\/span><b>evaluating the environmental impact before the project begins<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, not after damage has occurred.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.5993%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Environmental Clearances in Developed Countries<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>United Kingdom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Environmental clearance is granted under the<\/span><b> Town and Country Planning Act 1990<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span><b> Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations 2017, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">requiring EIAs for major projects before planning approval.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>United States:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mandates <\/span><b>federal agencies <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to conduct <\/span><b>Environmental Assessments (EA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or<\/span><b> Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before approving projects.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>France:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Under the <\/span><b>Environmental Code (Code de l&#8217;environnement)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, France mandates EIAs for classified installations and large projects, overseen by the Environmental Authority ( Autorit\u00e9 environnementale)\u00a0 to ensure ecological compliance.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Future Implications for Industries<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ruling sets a <\/span><b>significant precedent for strict regulatory compliance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, compelling industries to obtain ECs before initiating any project.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industrial and real estate developers may face <\/span><b>greater legal risk and project delays<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if they commence operations without prior environmental approval.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government is now <\/span><b>legally barred from issuing retrospective ECs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which means <\/span><b>unauthorized projects may face demolition or closure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the future.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The judgment is likely to prompt <\/span><b>tightened enforcement of EIA regulations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and may push for <\/span><b>greater public participation and transparency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the clearance process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This landmark verdict upholds the sanctity of environmental law and sets a strong deterrent against regulatory evasion, reaffirming the judiciary\u2019s role in ensuring sustainable development.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Editorials<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a 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Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) norms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":166192,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2089],"subject":[4642],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/166402"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166402"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/166402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":166415,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/166402\/revisions\/166415"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166402"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=166402"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=166402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}