The Supreme Court’s decision in Vanashakti v. Union of India firmly rejects the practice of granting environmental clearances after project work has begun. The Court struck down government orders that allowed retrospective approvals, emphasizing that prior clearance is essential to ensure public participation, expert review, and meaningful impact assessment. By declaring post-facto regularization impermissible, the judgment reinforces the precautionary principle and the rule of law in environmental governance. It sends a clear message that developers and public authorities cannot flout mandatory procedures without consequence, and it warns policymakers against using administrative shortcuts to bypass core protections. This ruling strengthens India’s environmental framework by upholding transparent, timely, and accountable decision-making in the interest of sustainable development.