Supreme Court quashes environmental impact assessment exemption for educational, industrial buildings
SC struck down note 1 to clause 8(a) of the MoEFCC notification dated January 29, 2025.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Friday quashed the environmental impact assessment exemption that had been granted to educational and industrial buildings. ANI informed about this development in an X post on Tuesday.
In an important decision, the Apex Court struck down the exemption granted to industrial sheds, schools, colleges, hostels, and other educational institutions from the requirement of obtaining prior environmental clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran struck down note 1 to clause 8(a) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change’s (MoEFCC) notification dated January 29, 2025. The Court upheld the rest of the notification. The Court was of the view that the specific exemption was arbitrary and liable to be set aside.
“…If any construction activity in an area more than 20,000 sq ft is carried out it will naturally have an effect on the environment even if the building is for educational purpose,” the Court said.
“We see no reason to discriminate the other buildings with the buildings constructed for industrial or educational purposes,” the Court also said.
