the Supreme Court has gained the upper hand in its dispute with the Union ministry of environment and forests (moef) over constituting the Forest Advisory Committee (fac). fac plays a crucial role because it governs large-scale transfer of forestland for non-forest purposes. But the court has diminished fac's role by making its decisions subject to judicial scrutiny.

In an order passed on April 27, 2007, the court said: "It may be stated that fresh cases may be cleared project-wise by the FAC and thereafter such clearances shall be placed before this Court for approval. We make it clear that pending the decision of the larger question, all clearances by the FAC of fresh cases shall be subject to approval by this Court. Before giving approval, we would like to have responses from Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in respect of each clearance.'

In 2006, the Supreme Court-appointed cec had suggested nine names for three non-official members of fac