Supreme Court’s Anti-Environment Tilt Sparks Outrage The Supreme Court of India has drawn sharp criticism for its perceived shift toward prioritizing economic development over environmental protection, particularly in its handling of the Pipavav port expansion case. The controversy erupted after the court upheld a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that approved the project’s environmental clearance, despite significant public and environmental concerns. The decision has intensified debates about the judiciary’s role in balancing industrial growth with ecological preservation, especially as climate change and environmental degradation continue to dominate public discourse. The Pipavav port expansion, initially proposed over a decade ago, faced prolonged legal battles. An environmental clearance (EC) was first granted in 2012 but expired in 2019, with an extension to June 2024. A new EC was issued in 2025, prompting local residents to challenge it in the NGT. The NGT’s November 2025 order, which became the subject of a Supreme Court appeal, relied heavily on the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which concluded the port would not harm biodiversity. The petitioners argued the NGT failed to scrutinize the case on its merits, but the Supreme Court dismissed their appeal at the admission stage, citing the EIA’s findings. The court’s stance has been scrutinized for its implications on environmental governance. Justice B.R. Gavai, then Chief Justice of India, faced backlash for overturning an earlier Supreme Court order that had barred post facto environmental clearances for projects violating norms. His 2:1 majority decision in November 2025, which endorsed retrospective approvals, drew criticism for undermining environmental safeguards.#supreme_court_of_india #national_green_triputial #pipavav_port #vanashakti #justice_b_r_gavai
72 Legal Experts Urge CJI to Retract Remarks on Environmental Activism A group of 72 legal professionals, including lawyers, law students, faculty, researchers, and activists, has written an open letter to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, demanding the retraction of recent Supreme Court remarks that cast doubt on the legitimacy of environmental activism. The letter, released on May 21, 2026, argues that the court’s observations undermine the role of public interest litigation (PILs) in holding authorities accountable for developmental decisions. The signatories are members of the National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights (NAJAR), a collective of legal professionals. The letter criticizes a Supreme Court bench, led by CJI Surya Kant and Justice [name redacted], for its May 11 remarks questioning the validity of environmental activists’ claims. The bench had stated, “Show us even a single project in this country where these alleged environmental activists have said that we welcome this project.” The legal experts argue that these comments unfairly stigmatize citizens and communities who use legal mechanisms to protect ecological interests. They contend that the remarks represent a broader shift in judicial philosophy, moving away from viewing environmental litigation as a constitutional duty toward treating it as an obstruction to development. The letter emphasizes that the court’s stance risks marginalizing citizens who act as enforcers of statutory obligations. It highlights a perceived judicial trend of dismissing environmental activists as “so-called” advocates rather than recognizing their role in upholding environmental laws.#surya_kant #chief_justice_of_india #national_green_triputial #ngt_act
