On December 18, 2025, for non-coal mining projects, the policy of land acquisition first and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) later was changed. The Supreme Court of India helped in the dilution of environmental justice by recalling the case, Vanashakti vs Union Of India (2025) that banned retrospective environmental clearances. The Court realised how such a strict interpretation would ignore huge tracts of ecologically crucial land, thus foiling the objective of environmental conservation. In fact, India’s courts have been more enthusiastic about cow slaughter (Article 48) and uniform civil code (Article 44). Traditionally, courts have been the custodians of environmental rights as they have broadened the constitutional interpretation on issues of environmental damage.

Source: The Hindu February 05, 2026 18:53 UTC