New Delhi, July 1 -- A group of 60 former civil servants has raised serious concerns about a potential conflict of interest within the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), a body advising the Supreme Court on crucial environmental matters.

In an open letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India on June 30, 2025, the group, identifying themselves as the Constitutional Conduct Group, argued that the current composition of the CEC could compromise the impartiality of its advice, particularly concerning the contentious Forest Conservation Amendment Act (FCAA) 2023.

The letter highlights that the CEC, originally constituted in 2002 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) under Supreme Court directives, was intended to monitor compl...