Supreme Court balances ecology and public interest. Centre must pay heed | The Indian Express
The verdict thus transforms what had become an open-ended administrative discretion under the post-2017 regime into a narrowly circumscribed constitutional exception. The flexibility recognised by the Court could prove valuable in cases involving national defence, when healthcare facilities are urgently needed in underserved areas, or highway projects become imperative to improve connectivity in remote regions.
Explanation in simple terms: India's top court ruled that the government must be more careful about approving environmental clearances after projects have already started (post facto clearances). The court emphasized that protecting the environment and serving the public interest must be balanced fairly. The government was told to pay closer attention to environmental concerns in future decisions. This means projects can't just get permission after the fact without proper review.