Archive · 28 Nov 2025
Supreme Court Halts Disbanding of Central Empowered Committee
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) is a group that helps the Supreme Court with environmental issues.
The government wanted to decide if the CEC should keep working or not, but the Supreme Court said the CEC can't be stopped without the court's approval.
The CEC has been helping the court for a long time with things like protecting forests and making sure rules are followed.
The court said the CEC's work is important for balancing environmental protection and development.
The CEC has experts who look into environmental problems and report back to the court.
The court also mentioned that the CEC's independent reports have been very helpful in making decisions about the environment.
The Supreme Court directed that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) can only be disbanded with its approval.
The Cabinet Secretariat had earlier suggested referring the CEC's future to the Law Commission, citing potential duplicity with the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The CEC, formed in 2002 and made permanent in 2023, advises the Supreme Court on environmental and forest matters.
The Supreme Court highlighted the CEC's role in conducting spot inspections and submitting reports, which have been crucial for environmental decisions.
The CEC's reports have assisted the Supreme Court in matters such as tiger reserves, tree felling, and mining in the Aravalli ranges.
- Who
- Central Empowered Committee (CEC), Supreme Court, Cabinet Secretariat, Environment Ministry
- What
- Supreme Court halts potential disbanding of CEC
- When
- November 19, 2023
- Where
- India
- Why
- To ensure continued environmental monitoring and compliance of court orders
- CEC Formation
- 2002, made permanent in 2023
- CEC Purpose
- Advises Supreme Court on environmental issues
- NGT Formation
- 2010, quasi-judicial tribunal for environmental cases
- Supreme Court Direction
- November 19, 2023, CEC can't be disbanded without approval
- CEC Chairman
- Siddhanta Das, former Director General of Forest
- CEC Members
- Chandra Prakash, Sunil Limaye, J R Bhatt
- CEC Member Secretary
- Vacant since December 2023