The Supreme Court has intervened, suspending government orders granting retrospective clearance for projects without prior environmental approval, in response to a petition by NGO Vanashakti. The court issued a notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and stayed the controversial January 2022 Office Memorandum, which Vanashakti argued was “blatantly illegal.” Stalin D., a Vanashakti director, expressed concern over the systematic dismantling of environmental safeguards by the government. The stay is seen as a significant win, impacting multiple sectors nationwide. Former Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh criticized the government’s decision as “absolutely atrocious,” urging its complete annulment
