New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS): Greenpeace foundation Monday welcomed the apex court's order that deemed all coal block allocations since 1993 as illegal on grounds of arbitrariness, flaws and lack of transparency.

The foundation believed this verdict of significant importance in sending a signal to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime.

Arundhati Muthu, campaigner, Greenpeace India, said: "Greenpeace has been pointing out that green clearances are not the hurdle for the delay in operationalisation of coal mines.

"Today's Supreme Court order has shown that crony capitalism has led to the handing out of coal with little application of mind or of a modicum of transparency and due process.

"This gives hope to activists calling for the application of law and due process on other legalities to do with mining clearances such as rights of forest dwelling communities."

The SC termed all allocations made by the screening committees illegal.