Notification under Section 23 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

**Executive Summary** This notification, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on May 18, 2026, delegates powers under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to all District Collectors across India. Following a Supreme Court order dated May 5, 2026, this delegation is effective for one year for the specific purpose of implementing Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The Central Government maintains the authority to revoke this delegation or intervene directly if deemed necessary in the public interest. **Key Points / Main Content** **Legal Basis and Authority** * The notification is issued under Section 23 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. * It follows directions from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the Order dated May 5, 2026 (Civil Appeal No. 6174 of 2023). **Delegation of Powers** * Powers vested in the Central Government under Section 5 of the Act are now delegated to all District Collectors nationwide. * The delegation is valid for a period of one year from the date of publication (May 18, 2026). * District Collectors are authorized to exercise these powers strictly within their jurisdictional limits. **Operational Scope** * The delegation is exclusively for the supervision, administration, and implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. **Government Oversight and Revocation** * The Central Government reserves the right to revoke the delegation of powers in respect of District Collectors across the country. * The Central Government may itself invoke the provisions of Section 5 of the Act if it is considered necessary in the public interest. **Impact Analysis** **District Collectors** **Impact** District Collectors are now legally empowered and responsible for the direct oversight of solid waste management within their specific jurisdictions. They hold the authority previously vested in the Central Government under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act for a limited term. **Action Required** They must supervise, administer, and ensure the active implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, within their respective districts for the one-year duration specified. **Central Government (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)** **Impact** The Central Government has decentralized the implementation of environmental rules while maintaining ultimate oversight and the legal right to intervene. **Action Required** The government must monitor the progress of the implementation and determine if any public interest concerns require the revocation of delegated powers or direct intervention under Section 5 of the Act.

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