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
