The Supreme Court on Tuesday reversed its earlier ruling that had barred the government from granting environmental clearances to projects after they had already begun, Live Law reported.

In a 2:1 decision, the court recalled its May judgement that declared such post-facto approvals illegal. The verdict on Tuesday allows the Centre to once again consider granting environment clearances to projects retrospectively.

The review petitions were heard by a bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai, and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran. Gavai and Chandran formed the majority, and Bhuyan dissented.

The majority said that the earlier judgment would have required the demolition of many buildings and public projects that had been approved through ex post facto clearances over the years

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