New Delhi, July 29 -- In a significant ruling for the real estate and infrastructure sectors, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday struck down the Centre's 2021 policy that allowed projects to obtain environmental clearance retrospectively, after construction had already started without prior approval.

However, the apex court upheld the government's one-time 2017 scheme allowing the regularisation of certain such projects, emphasising that it was an exceptional measure and cannot be treated as a permanent policy.

The 2017 amnesty scheme effectively saved 53 central and state government infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs.19,500 crore that were awaiting post-facto environmental clearance. These included the AIIMS Medical College and H...