Supreme Court Seeks Centre, MP Response on Plea Over 237 Alleged Illegal Environmental Clearances

Quick Summary:

• The Supreme Court of India on July 23, 2025, agreed to hear a petition challenging the legality of 237 environmental clearances granted by the member-secretary of madhya Pradesh’s State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
• The petition alleges systemic violations of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986; Environmental Protection Rules, 1986; and the EIA Notification, 2006.
• Filed by petitioner Vijay Kumar Das and represented by senior advocate vivek Tankha,the case claims that clearances were issued unilaterally without holding SEIAA meetings.
• A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai has issued notices to multiple respondents including the Union Government, Madhya Pradesh officials, SEIAA representatives, and CBI.
• It is alleged that from May 23 onward this year, environmental clearances were granted in bulk without proper procedures or consultations. For example: multiple approvals were reportedly issued within a single day (May 24).
• Between June 2024 and January 2025-when there was no functional SEIAA or SEAC-a new authority body was created on January 7 but concerns about irregularities persisted thereafter.
• Statements from SEIAA Chairman reportedly involved persistent ignored advisories/submissions alleging non-obvious secrecy/actions reflective negligence & indirect crimes being enabled quietly almost covered corruption w/supplement timeline related regarded behaviors around state/highpected new abuses clarified note laws **.

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