Former Supreme Court judge Justice Deepak Gupta on Wednesday said that courts now justify environmental degradation and attacked the judiciary over different decisions, ranging from a clean chit to Vantara to allowing the Great Nicobar project. Compensatory afforestation has become a joke,” the former Supreme Court judge said. The Supreme Court says that if a Chief Minister makes some remarks which are unpalatable, then go to the High Court. The former Supreme Court judge also said that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which was set up by the Supreme Court, earlier consisted of forest officials, bureaucrats, experts, and lawyers, among others, but now has only government officials. The former Supreme Court judge also said that eco-sensitive zones are being rolled back everywhere and permissions for the rollbacks are being given easily.

Source: The Hindu February 26, 2026 11:25 UTC