In Brief
The appellants challenged Stage-I Forest Clearances for a National Highway project but were directed to move the National Green Tribunal. The NGT dismissed their original application, holding they should appeal instead. The Supreme Court allowed their appeals, holding that the NGT wrongly rejected original jurisdiction under Section 14. The Court clarified that a DFO's order for tree-felling is appealable under Section 16(e) of the NGT Act and must be placed in the public domain as per the 2015 circular. Transparency in environmental clearances is essential for the right to challenge administrative decisions. The case was remitted to the NGT for fresh decision, with interim relief restraining tree-felling pending appeal.
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