Latest Supreme Court Judgments

Landmark Supreme Court of India rulings, explained in clear, plain language.

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Environmental & PIL

Showing 7 of 7 judgments

Do you need actual land ownership before applying for initial environmental clearance?

M/s Punahchakran Private Limited vs. Indotech Waste Solution & Ors

The Supreme Court ruled that actual land allotment is not a pre-requisite for starting the environmental clearance process, and restored the clearances of a biomedical waste plant located in a rural area.

Can a State government restrict or block fishermen from transiting through its territorial waters to engage in purse seine fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?

Fisherman Care v. The Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries & Ors. (with Gnanasekar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.)

Constitutional Law, Environmental & Marine Fisheries Law, Distribution of Legislative Powers (Seventh Schedule), and Fundamental Rights (Article 19(1)(g))

The Supreme Court directed Tamil Nadu to designate a specified transit channel and ensure timely processing of applications for fishermen to access the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for purse seine fishing under the EEZ Rules 2025, upholding the principle of cooperative federalism.

Can you be forced to pay for rebuilding land that was already damaged?

Vyakti Vikas Kendra India vs Manoj Misra (Dead) & Ors.

Environmental Law

The Supreme Court set aside the National Green Tribunal's penalty on Vyakti Vikas Kendra, ruling that organizers cannot be forced to pay for restoring land that was already damaged before their event.

Can the government allow projects to start without prior environmental clearance and regularize them forever?

Vanashakti vs Union of India

Environmental Law / Constitutional Law

The Court ruled that environmental clearances must normally be taken beforehand, upholding a limited 2017 amnesty scheme but striking down an open-ended 2021 route for late approvals.

$In Re: Illegal Sand Mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary$

How is the court stopping illegal sand mining in the Chambal wildlife sanctuary?

In Re: Illegal Sand Mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary

Environmental Law / Wildlife Protection

The Supreme Court ordered strict actions, heavy surveillance, and personal accountability of top officers to stop illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and protect endangered wildlife.

$In Re: 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan$

How will the court stop factories from poisoning Rajasthan's rivers with toxic waste?

In Re: 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan

Environmental Law

The Supreme Court ordered Rajasthan to set up a unified coordination group and a new River Commission to stop industrial pollution in Jojari, Bandi, and Luni rivers.

$Amravati Municipal Corporation vs. Ganesh Dadarao Anasane & Ors.$

How should the government calculate fines for people who pollute our environment?

Amravati Municipal Corporation vs. Ganesh Dadarao Anasane & Ors.

Environmental Law

The Supreme Court ordered the government to create clear, fair rules for taxing and penalizing polluters who violate waste management rules.