In Brief
The Supreme Court institutionalized the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) as a permanent statutory body under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, replacing its previous ad hoc status. The Court approved a new notification constituting the CEC with a Chairman, Member Secretary, and three expert members, each with defined tenure limits and expertise in environment, forest, and wildlife. The judgment established comprehensive principles for environmental rule of law, requiring all environmental regulatory bodies to have transparent composition, adequate funding, clear mandates, accessible procedures, public participation mechanisms, and systematic accountability. The Court emphasized its role in monitoring the proper institutionalization of environmental bodies to ensure effective protection and restoration of ecology, with decisions subject to Court oversight."
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