Supreme Court Sets Public Interest Test for Retroactive Clearances

The Supreme Court of India decided that the government cannot give blanket retroactive environmental clearances to projects that started without permission.

It said that only a very limited, one‑time amnesty can be allowed if it is needed for the public good.

The court said that the 2021 order that let many projects get clearances after they started was wrong.

It kept the 2017 one‑time amnesty, which let projects apply for clearance for six months.

The decision means that future amnesty must be very narrow and justified by public interest.

It also says that a government order is not the same as a law made by Parliament.

The ruling affects more than 100 projects, including mines, steel plants, and an airport.

The court wants to make sure that projects get permission before they start to protect the environment.

This is a new rule that balances industry needs with environmental safety.