The Supreme Court on 28 January 2024 issued a slew of directions, including regular audit of environmental bodies performance towards proper institutionalisation of environmental regulatory bodies and authorities.
- The apex court held that bodies and authorities enforcing environment laws should be accountable, transparent and efficient in their functioning.
- The court also approved the Centre’s notification making the expert committee assisting the Supreme Court on environment and forest issues – the central empowered committee (CEC) – to be a permanent body with members chosen by the Centre for a fixed tenure and specified functions.
- The CEC, which has been ad hoc so far, will now be recognised as a permanent statutory body.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued two notifications under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on September 5 constituting CEC as a permanent body and on September 8 naming chairperson and members.
- The committee will report to the Union Environment Ministry and the ministry will pick all the members.
- The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was formed as an ad hoc body in 2002 by a judgement passed by the Supreme Court in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad Vs Union of India and Ors. case.
