Supreme Court’s recent definition of the Aravalli Hills has come under scrutiny. Advocate Hitendra Gandhi urged the Chief Justice of India to review the ruling, warning that the ‘100-Metre Test’ may weaken critical environmental protections.
CJI BR Gavai stated that he did not alter his judgment in the retrospective environmental-clearance case even after reading Justice Ujjal Bhuyan’s sharp dissent. The Supreme Court’s majority recalled an earlier ruling, while Justice Bhuyan warned the decision weakens core environmental principles.
Today, On 18th November, The Supreme Court restored the mechanism for retrospective environment clearance, with CJI Gavai noting that his judgment had been criticised. Justice Bhuyan dissented firmly, arguing that review was unjustified and warning that established environmental jurisprudence should not be reversed.
Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant said that Indian courts don’t treat the law as just a strict rulebook. He shared that courts also protect constitutional values by giving the law modern and fair meanings. This allows the law to grow along with the changing society. According to him, this reflects the courts’ commitment to both justice and constitutional morality.
