Supreme Court vs Union of India and Others — Post Facto Environmental Clearances

The Supreme Court set aside an NGT order against Art of Living in a Yamuna floodplain matter. The Court held that the Polluter Pays Principle cannot be invoked absent a demonstrable link to environmental damage. The Court found that contemporaneous material showed the site was already damaged before it was handed over to the appellant.

The Coal Block Allocation cases, originating from the Supreme Court's 2014 judgment in Manohar Lal Sharma v. Principal Secretary (W.P.(Crl.) 120/2012), concern alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks between 1993 and 2011 under the 'Government Dispensation' route, which the Supreme Court declared arbitrary and illegal. CBI has prosecuted numerous accused — including former Ministry of Coal officials and private companies — before Special Courts in Delhi — the Directorate of Enforcement has simultaneously pursued PMLA cases. As of 2025–2026, trials remain ongoing before Special Courts in Delhi (Rouse Avenue Courts), the Supreme Court continues to supervise and reconstitute benches for batch SLP hearings, the Delhi High Court has ruled on key PMLA questions, and individual sub-cases have seen both acquittals and discharges. All accused persons are presumed innocent unless a court has delivered a final conviction.

The National Green Tribunal issued a notice to the Punjab Pollution Board regarding ₹149 crore in unrecovered environmental fines. The NGT directed completion of service on respondents and scheduled the next hearing for October 29, 2026.