CJI Surya Kant’s Remarks on Environmental Litigants Prompt Open Letter From Retired Bureaucrats

A group of 71 retired civil servants from the All India and Central Services has written an open letter to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, expressing concern over his recent remarks on environmental litigants during a Supreme Court hearing linked to the Pipavav Port expansion project in Gujarat.

The retired officers, writing under the banner of the Constitutional Conduct Group, said the CJI’s observations could create “an atmosphere of fear” and discourage citizens from raising concerns against environmentally damaging projects. The controversy has brought the phrase “CJI remarks on environmental litigants” into national focus amid growing debate over environmental activism and judicial accountability. CJI Surya Kant Completes Self-Enumeration for Phase I of Census 2027.

The remarks were made during the hearing of an appeal against a National Green Tribunal order dated November 26, 2025, which upheld environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone clearances granted to the Pipavav Port expansion project.

During the proceedings, the Chief Justice reportedly said, “Show us one project in India where environmental activists say we welcome this project, the country is progressing well, we welcome this project.” Though the observation was oral and not part of a written order, it drew sharp reactions from environmental advocates and former bureaucrats.

In their letter, the retired civil servants said the statement reflected “a bias and prejudice that is alarming, coming from the highest judicial authority of the country.” They argued that such comments could discourage public participation in environmental litigation and weaken democratic dissent.

The signatories include former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, former Union environment secretary Meena Gupta, activist and former IAS officer Harsh Mander, former foreign secretary K Raghunath, and former Punjab DGP Julio Ribeiro.

The group defended the role of citizen-led environmental movements in India, citing examples such as the Chipko Movement, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Silent Valley agitation, and Karnataka’s Appiko movement. According to the letter, such movements have historically strengthened conservation efforts and democratic accountability.

The retired officers also questioned the functioning of government-appointed environmental appraisal bodies. They alleged that statutory institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change increasingly function as “rubber stamps” for project clearances.

Citing official data, the letter claimed that Environment Appraisal Committees cleared between 95 and 100 per cent of projects across sectors, while large-scale forest land diversion approvals were granted between 2014 and 2024. The signatories argued that the environmental governance framework in India is facing a “collapse of judicious decision-making and environmental caution.”

The group urged the Supreme Court not to place “blind faith” in appraisal bodies and instead recognise environmental public interest litigation as a crucial democratic safeguard. The letter concluded by urging the Chief Justice to encourage citizens to continue raising concerns related to ecological protection and environmental integrity.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2026 03:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).