New Delhi: In an open letter addressed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, over 70 retired civil servants have expressed concern over his recent comments on environmental litigants during the hearing of an appeal against the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order. The open letter of 71 signatories has been issued by the ‘Constitutional Practice Group’. The NGT order dated November 26, 2025 had upheld the environment and coastal regulation zone clearance given to the Pipavav port expansion project in Gujarat. “Show us a project in India where environmental activists say, ‘We welcome this project, the country is making good progress…'” the CJI had said in an oral remark, which was not part of the written order. In their letter, the retired officials said, “Such statements can stoke fear and stifle citizens’ dissenting voices, discouraging them from questioning ecological damage and potential adverse impacts on communities and public health.” He added, “This could create tendencies fundamentally contrary to democracy.” The signatories include former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung, former IAS officer and activist Harsh Mander, former Foreign Secretary K Raghunath and former Environment Secretary Meena Gupta. Retired officers said CJI Surya Kant’s remarks reflected “bias and prejudice” and said it was “worrying coming from the highest judicial authority of the country”.