Supreme Court orders to maintain status quo at Doloo tea estate in Assam

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Assam government to maintain the status quo at the Doloo tea estate in the Cachar district of Assam, where Greenfield airport is proposed to be constructed. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra questioned the state government for clearing the shrubs in the tea garden without an environment impact assessment report. The top court also issued notices to the Centre, ministry of environment and forests, Assam government and others on a plea filed by Tapas Guha and others. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the NGT erred in decision and even for the grant of site clearance and in-principle approvals, environmental clearance is necessary. The NGT on January 25 had dismissed the plea by Guha and others on the ground that environmental impact assessment report is awaited and the environmental clearance for the airport in question has not been granted. "Counsel for