Constitution of India · Part IV: Directive Principles of State Policy

Article 48A: Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life

Official text

Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the official text of the Constitution of India. As amended up to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023. Text as on 10 September 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the article 48A

• Swacch Association, Nagpur v. The State of Maharashtra & Ors.
  2025 INSC 11997 October 2025Dismissed

  Whether the Futala Tank classifies within the meaning and definition of r.2(1)(g) of the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017; The kind and nature of the constructions in and around the Futala Tank.

• Union Territory of J & K (Previously State of Jammu & Kashmir) & Anr. v. Raja Muzaffar Bhat & Ors.
  2025 INSC 102522 August 2025Dismissed

  Accepting the recommendations of the EAC, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) granted Environmental Clearance (EC) to the project proponent on 19.04.2022. Aggrieved by the issuance of EC dated…

• Delhi Pollution Control Committee v. Lodhi Property Co. Ltd. Etc.
  2025 INSC 9233 August 2025Appeal(s) allowed

  Whether the regulatory boards can, in exercise of powers u/s.33A of the Water Act and s.31A of the Air Act, impose and collect as restitutionary and compensatory damages fixed sums of monies or require furnishing bank…

• Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai & Ors. v. Pankaj Babulal Kotecha & Ors.
  2025 INSC 79230 May 2025Appeal(s) allowed

  Whether a recreational park developed on an alleged historical water body ought to be demolished and the water body restored or alternatively, whether the development warrants preservation given its current utility and…

• Old Jalukai Village Council v. Kakiho Village & Ors.
  2025 INSC 76623 May 2025

  Whether it could be said that the respondent no.1-village had fulfilled all the necessary conditions/criteria for the issuance of formal order(s) of recognition as per the O.M.s dated 22.03.1996 and 01.10.2005…

• Siddhi Sandeep Ladda v. Consortium of National Law Universities and Another
  2025 INSC 7146 May 2025

  Consortium of National Law Universities-respondent no.1 has been framing questions for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT); In an examination, several questions and/or the answers were found to be not suitable; The…

• Mr. R. Rajebdran v. The District Collector, Vellore District & Others
  2025 INSC 13130 January 2025Disposed of

  Matter pertains to pollution caused by tanneries by discharging untreated or partially treated effluents into the River Palar and surrounding areas; and as regards the correctness of the order passed by the High Court…

• Rajeeb Kalita v. Union of India & Ors.
  2025 INSC 7514 January 2025Directions issued

  Writ petition filed seeking issuance of Writ directing the States and Union Territories to ensure basic toilet facilities in Courts/ Tribunals in the country for all including, persons with disabilities and transgender…

• Peoples Rights and Social Research Centre (Prasar) & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2024 INSC 5826 August 2024

  Matter pertains to the issue of Silicosis among workers in various industries across the country.

• Gene Campaign & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2024 INSC 54523 July 2024

  Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a body under the Department of Environment, Forest and Wildlife, in its 147 th meeting held on 18.10.2022, recommended environmental release of transgenic mustard hybrid,…

• The State of Telangana & Ors. v. Mohd. Abdul Qasim (Died) Per LRs.
  2024 INSC 31018 April 2024Appeal(s) allowed

  High Court whether justified in passing the impugned order in review petition in favour of the plaintiff-respondent despite him not proving his title over the suit property (forest land), setting aside the concurrent…

• M K Ranjitsinh & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2024 INSC 28021 March 2024Directions issued

  Conservation and protection of the endangered species of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

• In Re: T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India & Ors.
  2024 INSC 1786 March 2024Directions issued

  The issues were : (i) Whether Tiger Safaris and Zoos are on the same footing; (ii) Whether establishment of a ‘Tiger Safari’ at Pakhrau in Corbett Tiger reserve was legal; (iii) Illegal construction in Corbett Tiger…

• Arcelormittal India Private Limited & Anr v. Union of India & Ors
  DHC DLHC010060462017 24022929 February 2024
• D. Swamy v. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and Ors
  2022 INSC 99822 September 2022Dismissed
• The State of Rajasthan and Another v. Ultratech Cement Ltd
  2022 INSC 87126 August 2022Dismissed
• Narinder Singh & Ors. v. Divesh Bhutani & Ors.
  2022 INSC 73721 July 2022Disposed of
• Madhya Pradesh High Court Advocates Bar Association and Anr v. Union of India and Anr
  2022 INSC 58618 May 2022Dismissed
• M/S Pahwa Plastics Pvt. Ltd. and Anr v. Dastak Ngo and Ors.
  2022 INSC 34525 March 2022Appeal(s) allowed
• Pragnesh Shah v. Dr. Arun Kumar Sharma & Ors.
  2022 INSC 4712 January 2022Dismissed
• Citizens for Green Doon & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2021 INSC 88514 December 2021Disposed of
• Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai v. Ankita Sinha & Ors.
  2021 INSC 6247 October 2021Directions issued
• Himachal Pradesh Bus Stand Management and Development Authority (Hpbsm & Da) v. The Central Empowered Committee Etc. & Ors.
  2021 INSC 1812 January 2021Disposed of
• The Project Director, Project Implementation Unit v. P.V. Krishnamoorthy and Ors.
  2020 INSC 6888 December 2020Disposed of
• Jayant Etc. v. The State of Madhya Pradesh
  2020 INSC 6783 December 2020Disposed of
• Hospitality Association of Mudumalai v. In Defence of Environment and Animals and Ors. Etc.
  2020 INSC 59714 October 2020Disposed of
• The Director General (Road Development) National Highways Authority of India v. Aam Aadmi Lokmanch & Ors.
  2020 INSC 45214 July 2020Disposed of
• Jitendra Singh v. Ministry of Environment & Ors.
  2019 INSC 128025 November 2019Appeal(s) allowed
• Tata Housing Development Company Ltd v. Aalok Jagga and Others
  2019 INSC 12035 November 2019Dismissed
• State of Meghalaya v. All Dimasa Students Union, Dima-Hasao District Committee & Ors.
  2019 INSC 7213 July 2019Disposed of
• Hanuman Laxman Aroskar v. Union of India
  2019 INSC 43429 March 2019Disposed of
• The State of Madhya Pradesh v. Uday Singh
  2019 INSC 40126 March 2019Appeal(s) allowed
• State of Gujarat and Others Etc. v. Jayeshbhai Kanjibhai Kalathiya Etc.
  2019 INSC 2971 March 2019Dismissed
• Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board v. Sterlite Industries (I) Ltd. & Ors.
  2019 INSC 22018 February 2019Disposed of
• Arjun Gopal and Others v. Union of India and Others
  2018 INSC 98123 October 2018Directions issued
• Arjun Gopal and Others v. Union of India and Others
  2017 INSC 10219 October 2017Jain !As disposed of.
• Techi Tagi Tara v. Rajendra Singh Bhandari & Ors.
  2017 INSC 98622 September 2017Disposed of
• State of Uttarakhand & Ors. v. M/S. Kumaon Stone Crusher
  2017 INSC 91215 September 2017Disposed of
• State of Kerala & Ors. v. M/S. Kerala Rare Earth & Minerals Limited & Ors.
  2016 INSC 3018 April 2016Dismissed
• Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Anr. v. Anand Arya and Ors.
  2016 INSC 1395 February 2016Disposed of
• Hindustan Zinc Ltd v. Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission
  2015 INSC 99613 May 2015Directions issued
• Gulf Goans Hotels Co. Ltd. & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.
  2014 INSC 65622 September 2014Appeal(s) allowed
• State of NCT of Delhi v. Sanjay
  2014 INSC 6024 September 2014Disposed of
• Association for Environment Protection v. State of Kerala and Others
  2013 INSC 4132 July 2013Appeal(s) allowed
• K. Guruprasad Rao v. State of Karnataka and Others
  2013 INSC 3971 July 2013Appeal(s) allowed
• G. Sundarrajan v. Union of India and Ors.
  2013 INSC 3146 May 2013Disposed of
• Samaj Parivartana Samudaya & Ors. v. State of Karanataka & Ors.
  2013 INSC 26518 April 2013Disposed of
• Centre for Environment Law, Wwf-1 v. Union of India & Others
  2013 INSC 25415 April 2013Allowed
• Court on Its Own Motion v. Union of India & Ors.
  2012 INSC 59313 December 2012Disposed of
• Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy v. Union of India & Ors.
  2012 INSC 30830 July 2012Disposed of
• Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy v. Union of India & Ors.
  2012 INSC 2736 July 2012Disposed of
• Deepak Kumar Etc. v. State of Haryana and Ors. Etc.
  2012 INSC 11327 February 2012Hearing Adjourned
• T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India & Others
  2012 INSC 8713 February 2012Disposed of
• T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad v. Union of India & Others
  2012 INSC 8913 February 2012Disposed of
• Centre for Public Interest Litigation and Others v. Union of India and Others
  2012 INSC 682 February 2012Allowed
• Sansar Chand v. State of Rajasthan
  2010 INSC 71220 October 2010Dismissed
• Glanrock Estate (P) Ltd. v. State of Tamil Nadu
  2010 INSC 5899 September 2010Dismissed
• State of Uttaranchal v. Balwant Singh Chaufal & Others
  2010 INSC 4718 January 2010Hearing Adjourned
• Tirpur Dyeing Factory Owners Assn. v. Noyyal River A. Protection Assn. & Ors.
  2009 INSC 11656 October 2009Disposed of
• Tika Ram & Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors.
  2009 INSC 11239 September 2009Dismissed
• M.C. Mehta v. Union of India and Ors.
  2009 INSC 7508 May 2009Disposed of
• Nature Lovers Movement v. State of Kerala and Others
  2009 INSC 37120 March 2009Disposed of
• Fomento Resorts and Hotels Ltd. and Another v. Minguel Martins and Others
  2009 INSC 3920 January 2009Dismissed
• Mohd. Ashique v. State of Maharashtra
  2008 INSC 131018 November 2008Dismissed
• Research Foundation for Science Technology and Natural Resource Policy v. Union of India and Anr.
  2007 INSC 90911 September 2007Disposed of
• Mrs. Susetha v. State of Tamil Nadu and Ors.
  2006 INSC 4978 August 2006Dismissed
• Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board v. Sri C. Kenchappa & Ors.
  2006 INSC 32312 May 2006Appeal(s) allowed
• Akhil Sharat Gosewa Sangh v. State of A.P. and Ors.
  2006 INSC 18629 March 2006CA.Nos. 3964-3968/1994 disposed of and
• Bombay Dyeing and Mfg. Co.Ltd. v. Bombay Environmental Action Group and Ors.
  2006 INSC 1427 March 2006Appeal(s) allowed
• Intellectuals Forum, Tirupathi v. State of A.P. and Ors.
  2006 INSC 10123 February 2006Disposed of
• State of Gujarat v. Mirzapur Moti Kureshi Kassab Jamat and Ors.
  2005 INSC 52526 October 2005Dismissed
• T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India and Ors.
  2005 INSC 43926 September 2005Disposed of
• Research Foundation for Science Technology and Natural Resources Policy v. Union of India and Anr.
  2005 INSC 115 January 2005Disposed of
• M.C. Mehta v. Union of India and Ors.
  2004 INSC 18818 March 2004Disposed of
• Union of India v. Naveen Jindal and Anr.
  2004 INSC 5323 January 2004Dismissed
• State of West Bengal and Ors. v. Sujit Kumar Rana
  2004 INSC 4520 January 2004Appeal(s) allowed
• Essar Oil Ltd. v. Halar Utkarsh Samiti and Ors.
  2004 INSC 4019 January 2004Disposed of
• Balram Kumawat v. Union of India & Ors.
  2003 INSC 42627 August 2003Dismissed
• Indian Handicrafts Emporium and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors.
  2003 INSC 42727 August 2003Dismissed
• K.M. Chinnappa in T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad v. Union of India and Ors.
  2002 INSC 45230 October 2002IA disposed
• Netai Bag and Ors. v. The State of West Bengal and Ors.
  2000 INSC 46227 September 2000Dismissed
• M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath and Ors.
  2000 INSC 32912 May 2000
• A.P. Pollution Control Board v. Prof. M.V. Na Yudu (Retd.) and Others
  1999 INSC 2427 January 1999Directions issued
• M.C.Mehta v. Union of India & Ors
  1998 INSC 22712 May 1998Directions issued
• Samatha v. State of Andhra Pradesh and Ors.
  [1997] SUPP. 2 S.C.R. 30511 July 1997Disposed of
• Animal and Environment Legal Defence Fund v. Union of India and Ors.
  1997 INSC 2315 March 1997Disposed of
• M.C.Mehta v. Union of India and Ors.
  1996 INSC 153430 December 1996Disposed of
• S. Jagannath v. Union of India and Ors.
  1996 INSC 146611 December 1996Appeal(s) allowed
• M.C. Mehta v. Union of India and Ors.
  1996 INSC 117911 October 1996Disposed of
• Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India and Ors.
  1996 INSC 95228 August 1996Disposed of
• Pradeep Krishen v. Union of India and Ors.
  1996 INSC 66510 May 1996Disposed of
• Dr. B.L. Wadehra v. Union of India and Ors.
  1996 INSC 3521 March 1996Disposed of
• LIC of India and Anr. v. Consumer Education and Research Centre and Ors. Etc.
  1995 INSC 36710 May 1995Dismissed
• M.C. Mehta v. Union of India and Ors.
  1991 INSC 7514 March 1991Directions issued
• Charan Lal Sahu Etc. Etc. v. Union of India and Ors.
  1989 INSC 39522 December 1989Disposed of
• Rural Litigation & Entitlement Kendra v. State of U.P.
  1988 INSC 25430 August 1988Disposed of
• M.C. Mehta v. Union of India & Others
  1987 INSC 26122 September 1987Directions issued
• Sachidananda Pandey v. State of West Bengal & Ors.
  1987 INSC 4211 February 1987Dismissed
• Om Parkash Agarwal Etc.Etc. v. Girl Raj Kishori & Ors. Etc.Etc.
  1986 INSC 828 January 1986Appeal(s) allowed
• Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra Dehradun & Ors. v. State of U.P. & Ors.
  1985 INSC 4912 March 1985Disposed of