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
