India, May 21 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to interfere with the forest clearance for the Adani Group's coal block project in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli, questioning the petitioner about the delay in filing his plea.

Environmental activist Ajay Dubey moved the Supreme Court after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 22 dismissed his plea against the May 2025 clearance to Adani Group's Mahan Energen Limited on the grounds of delay.

"Why so much delay. The original application by you was filed before the NGT on January 22," said a bench of justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe.

Section 16 of the NGT Act allows challenging orders of authorities within 30 days or within the next 60 days if there is sufficient cause for th...