THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE COASTAL MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY vs DLF UNIVERSAL LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS ADELIE BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS PVT LTD) .

The Supreme Court addressed the conflict between environmental protection and development, specifically regarding a housing project in Kerala. The Court held that the developer had obtained all necessary permissions, including those from the Kerala Building Rules, 1984, and the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, thus validating the project's legality. The Court emphasized that the Coastal Management Authority's delayed actions could not retroactively invalidate the approvals granted to the developer, thereby upholding the project's continuation.