1 2024 INSC 399 Reportable IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Civil Appeal Nos 4603-4604 of 2024 Tapas Guha & Ors … Appellants Versus Union of India & Ors … Respondents J U D G M E N T Dr Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, CJI 1. Application for intervention is allowed. 2. These Appeals arise from an order dated 25 January 2024 of the Eastern Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal. 3. The Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Union Government decided to build a commercial Airport at Silchar in Assam since the existing defence airport is not suitable for domestic civilian operations. 4. Three tea estates, namely, (i) Doloo; (ii) Khoreel; and (iii) Silcoorie were identified by the Government of Assam for the sites of the airport. The Airport Authority of India1 conducted a feasibility study and chose Doloo as the site for a new Greenfield Airport on 1“AAI”2 land admeasuring approximately 335 hectares. AAI made a request for additional land, following which an adjacent area