During the hearing today, the CJI suggested maintaining status quo until the environmental clearance report is received.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta countered the petitioners and suggested that some petitioners, who were 1300 km away, were filing self-serving petitions.
He argued that workers on-site also cut trees for domestic purposes and emphasized the need for considering factors like wind direction for the greenfield project.
The CJI then took note of a report from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) secretary stating that tea bushes were uprooted by heavy machinery, and the court-appointed officer couldn’t venture far due to thick forest and dangerous wildlife.
The SG drew attention of the Court to some pictures and alleged that the court was being misled by the petitioners.
Despite the arguments, the Court suggested no further steps until an EIA report is available.
SG Mehta contended that the Court was being misled with false statements that houses were being brought down and forests were being cut.
“This is how the jurisdiction of this court is being abused. The so-called expert has not even visited the site and says some other land is better land,” he said.
Source: Barandbench
