ORISSA MINING CORPORATION LTD. vs MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FOREST &ORS.

The Supreme Court ruled on the validity of the Ministry of Environment and Forests' (MOEF) order rejecting the Stage-II forest clearance for Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd. to divert 660.749 hectares of forest land for bauxite mining. The Court emphasized the necessity of adhering to environmental regulations and the implications of prior judgments, specifically referencing the Vedanta and Sterlite cases. The Court ultimately upheld the MOEF's decision, reinforcing the importance of environmental protection under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.