Day 19
JudiciarySkim2025-05-16
SC Strikes Down Ex-Post Facto Environmental Clearances
What Happened
In Vanashakti v. Union of India, the Supreme Court struck down government notifications allowing projects to obtain environmental clearance after starting operations. The bench ruled that such ex-post facto approvals are illegal and undermine regulatory oversight.
Why It Matters
This judgment reinforces the 'Precautionary Principle' by ensuring environmental impact assessments happen before development, preventing companies from bypassing ecological safeguards through retrospective legalization.
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