Kerala High Court pulls up Minority Commission for granting Environmental Clearance to quarry

The Kerala State Minority Commission was reprimanded by the Kerala High Court for directing the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to grant an environmental clearance for a quarry project despite having no jurisdiction to do so. The Court held the Commission’s powers under the Kerala State Commission for Minorities Act, 2014 are limited to inquiry, recommendation and reporting on minority rights and do not extend to issuing binding directions to independent statutory regulators. The judgment reinforces the importance of institutional competence and the necessity for authorities to act within their legal mandate.