Supreme Court balances ecology and public interest. Centre must pay heed

At a time of climate change and accelerating ecological degradation, the government, too, must recognise that environmental protection is an integral component of public interest. 3 min readJul 31, 2026 06:00 AM IST First published on: Jul 31, 2026 at 06:00 AM IST India’s Environmental Impact Assessment is grounded in the precautionary principle — it prioritises the integrity of ecosystems over minimising harm or compensating for damage later. From 2017, the government has tried to dilute this safeguard by allowing developers to apply for ecological clearance after commencing a project. A notification issued that year provided a one-time window to defaulters to comply with due procedures. It inaugurated a regime of post-facto clearances, which was consolidated in 2021 when the Centre issue