SC must prioritise environmental concerns over ‘corporate waste of money’, say ex-bureaucrats

Three orders passed by the Supreme Court in November on environmental matters harm citizens’ interests and impede nature conservation in the country, a group of 79 retired civil servants and diplomats said on Sunday in an open letter.

The former bureaucrats, who are part of the Constitutional Conduct Group, urged the Supreme Court to “prioritise the health of…citizens over the waste of money of…corporates”.

The signatories to the letter expressed “deep anguish” about the Supreme Court reversing an earlier ruling that had barred retrospective clearances for developmental projects, another order accepting a new definition for the Aravalli Hills and a third verdict barring the government from disbanding the present Central Empowered Committee without the Supreme Court’s permission.

The ex-bureaucrats said that the orders have led them to fear that “the last bastion meant to uphold the constitutional provisions to protect and conserve our natural world and the right to life of the people of India is crumbling before the onslaught of rich and powerful vested interests”.

Retrospective clearances

In May, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court had restrained the Union government from granting ex post facto clearances in any form to regularise illegal constructions. However, on November 18, a three-judge bench through a 2:1 decision reversed the verdict, allowing the Centre to once again consider...

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