The court argued that without conducting the required environmental assessment, "the Ministry had no basis to make a proper estimate whether the actions from the plan would have an impact on the environment or not." The three-judge panel noted that such assessment must be based on the criteria of the Environmental Assessment Regulation, which had not been the case so far. 
Mahakamailijenga hoja kuwa bila ya kufanya upembuzi yakinifu wa mazingira, "Wizara haikuwa na ushahidi wowote wa awali wa kufanya makadirio yoyote ikiwa utekelezaji wa maazimio kwenye mpango ulioandaliwa ungeweza kuwa na manufaa kwenye mazingira au la."Jopo la majaji watatu liliweka bayana kuwa tathmini ya aina hii inapaswa kuzingatia vigezo vya Kanuni ya Upembuzi Yakinifu wa Mazingira, ambayo haijazingatiwa hadi sasa.