In a move that could reshape environmental governance, the Supreme Court, in a hearing on Delhi’s firecracker ban, raised concerns over its limited geographical enforcement. The bench emphasized that “clean air is a right” and questioned why the ban applied only to the Delhi-NCR and not uniformly across the country. This underscores that environmental safeguards cannot be selectively enforced, especially when pollution knows no political boundaries.

The Supreme Court barred sand-mining clearances without scientific replenishment studies, branding such approvals “fundamentally defective.” The judgment ties sustainable mining to constitutional rights, reshaping environmental governance across India.

Supreme Court's landmark judgment emphasizes the need for rigorous GMO regulations to protect public health and the environment.