Bhubaneswar, May 16 -- https://images.odishatv.in/uploadimage/library/16_9/16_9_0/recent_photo_1740993813.jpg

The Supreme Court on Friday said the right to live in a pollution free atmosphere was a part of the fundamental right as it struck down Centre's office memorandum allowing ex post facto or retrospective environmental clearances to projects in violation of norms.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan made scathing remarks in its judgement delivered on a plea filed by Vanashakti organisation and said, "The Union Government, as much as individual citizens, has a constitutional obligation to protect the environment."

The court said it "must come down very heavily" on the Centre's attempt to do "something which is c...