Overview
- An open letter dated December 28 from the Constitutional Conduct Group, signed by 79 retired secretaries, chiefs and diplomats, warns recent Supreme Court orders dilute the constitutional right to a healthy environment.
- The signatories object to the November 18 order that recalled a May ruling and reopened the processing of ex post facto environmental clearances while a larger bench is yet to be set up.
- They also challenge the November 20 acceptance of an Aravalli definition based on 100 metres of local relief, which they say could exclude over 90% of the range from protection and weaken its dust-barrier and groundwater-recharge roles for Delhi-NCR.
- The court has directed the environment ministry to produce scientific mapping and a sustainable mining plan for the Aravallis, and a vacation bench is slated to hear concerns arising from the new definition on Monday.
- The group questions the independence of the Central Empowered Committee, even as a November order bars its disbanding without court approval, citing recent endorsements of harmful actions and overlap with the Aravalli expert panel.