February 23, 2026 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has rejected an application seeking to intervene in an ongoing appeal related to the cancellation of an environmental clearance in Uttar Pradesh, while directing that the main case will be heard on merits in April.
The matter concerns Appeal No. 45/2025, filed by Vipin Kumar Saxena against the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Uttar Pradesh. The appellant has challenged SEIAA’s order dated December 22, 2024, which cancelled the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted to him. He has also contested a subsequent order dated May 15, 2025, in which SEIAA rejected his request to restore the clearance.
Earlier, the NGT had dismissed the appeal on December 24, 2025, on the ground that it was filed beyond the statutory limitation period. The decision was later challenged before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court, in Civil Appeal No. 469/2026, set aside the tribunal’s order on February 5, 2026. The apex court noted that the delay involved was only two days and held that the case deserved to be examined on merits. Without expressing any opinion on the substantive issues, the Supreme Court restored the appeal to the NGT and directed the tribunal to hear both parties before deciding the matter.
When the case came up before the NGT Principal Bench on February 23, 2026, counsel for SEIAA informed the tribunal that she had not been heard before the Supreme Court and had not received a copy of the civil appeal filed there. The counsel for the appellant assured the tribunal that a complete set of the documents filed before the Supreme Court would be provided to SEIAA within two days.
During the hearing, the tribunal also considered an application filed by Naveen Kumar seeking to be impleaded as a party in the appeal. Kumar argued that he had earlier filed Original Application No. 440/2023 in which the tribunal had made certain observations against the appellant.
The appellant opposed the impleadment application, alleging that the applicant was attempting to threaten and blackmail him. The proposed intervenor denied the allegation.
After examining the submissions, the tribunal observed that the present matter is an appeal that will be decided primarily on the basis of the record and decision of SEIAA, which is already represented and actively contesting the case. The bench therefore found no justification to add another party to the proceedings.
Accordingly, the NGT rejected the impleadment application (IA No. 601/2025). As a consequence, a related application seeking directions (IA No. 602/2025), filed by the same applicant, was also dismissed.
The case will now be taken up for further hearing on April 2, 2026.
Case Reference : Appeal No. 45/2025 (IA Nos. 442/2025, 601/2025 & 602/2025) – Vipin Kumar Saxena, Appellant vs. SEIAA, Uttar Pradesh & Anr., Respondents; Counsels: Mr. V.K. Shukla and Mr. Udit Jain, Advocates for the Appellant; Ms. Priyanka Swami, Advocate for SEIAA, UP (through VC); Mr. Akash Vashishtha, Advocate in IA Nos. 601–602/2025.
