Supreme Court declines plea against forest clearances for Adani coal project in M.P.
The Supreme Court declined to interfere with the environmental clearances granted to the Adani Group's coal block project in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli district, primarily due to the petitioner's delay in challenging the approvals. Environmental activist Ajay Dubey had challenged an NGT order that dismissed his plea against the May 2025 environmental clearance for Mahan Energen Ltd. (an Adani Power subsidiary) on limitation grounds. The Bench, comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, questioned the delay, noting that challenges to statutory authority orders must typically be filed within 30 days, with a 60-day extension for sufficient cause. While the petitioner argued grave environmental concerns, the SC suggested pursuing other legal remedies.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court refused to intervene in the environmental clearances for an Adani coal project in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.
- The primary reason for the SC's decision was the petitioner's significant delay in challenging the approvals.
- Challenges to statutory authority orders under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, typically have a 30-day limitation period.
- The petitioner argued that the project involved felling nearly six lakh trees and raised grave environmental concerns.
- The SC advised the petitioner to pursue other legal remedies, such as a writ petition.
Exam Facts
- Adani Group's coal block project in Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Mahan Energen Ltd. is a subsidiary of Adani Power.
- National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, Section 16 (limitation period for challenges).
- Supreme Court's 2025 ruling in Talli Gram Panchayat v. Union of India was cited by NGT.
- Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe were on the Bench.
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