Judgement of the Supreme Court regarding construction of the Greenfield International Airport, Bhogapuram, Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 02/03/2021
Judgement of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Sridevi Datla Vs Union of India & Others dated 02/03/2021. The matter related to the environmental clearance granted for the construction of the Greenfield International Airport, Bhogapuram, Vishakapatnam.
The appellant (Sridevi Datla) approached the SC after aggrieved by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order which rejected the application for condonation of delay in filing the appeal in the court.
The apex court was of the opinion that there was merit in the appellant's argument and said that "given the mandate of the NGT Act, the exercise of discretion, as was done in this case, to reject the appeal by dismissing the application for condonation of delay, on the ground that no sufficient cause was shown, was erroneous and based on a narrow reading of the law".
The SC directed the impunged NGT order to be set aside and condoned the delay in filing the appeal before the NGT. All the parties have been asked to appear and proceed to argue the appeal of its merit - which shall then be disposed in accordance with law.