AIBE Environmental Law PYQs: Repeated Acts, Sections & Questions

Doctrine

Meaning

Landmark Case

Polluter Pays Principle

Polluter must compensate for environmental harm.

Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action

Precautionary Principle

Lack of scientific certainty cannot delay environmental protection.

Vellore Citizens

Public Trust Doctrine

State is trustee of natural resources.

Kamal Nath / ICELA

Absolute Liability

No exceptions: industries dealing with hazardous substances must pay for the harm they cause.

Oleum Gas Leak Case (M.C. Mehta v. Union of India)

Environmental Statute

Year

Focus / Purpose

Environment Protection Act

1986

Umbrella legislation for environmental protection; empowers the Central Government to take measures to protect and improve the environment.

Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act

1981

Controls and prevents air pollution; establishes Central & State Pollution Control Boards.

Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act

1974

Regulates water pollution; establishes Pollution Control Boards and effluent discharge standards.

Forest Conservation Act

1980

Restricts deforestation and regulates diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.

Wildlife Protection Act

1972

Protects wildlife, habitats, and biodiversity; provides schedules for species protection.

National Green Tribunal Act

2010

Establishes NGT for fast disposal of environmental cases and the enforcement of environmental rights.

Case

What It Established

Why This Case Is Important for AIBE

1. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Oleum Gas Leak Case), 1986

Introduced Absolute Liability in India.

SC held that industries engaging in hazardous activities must compensate victims without exceptions. Stronger than strict liability. Frequently asked in AIBE.

2. Vellore Citizens’ Welfare Forum v. Union of India, 1996

Declared Precautionary Principle & Polluter Pays as part of Indian law.

Court integrated these principles into Articles 21, 47, 48A, and 51A(g). Basis for many later judgments. AIBE often asks direct questions.

3. Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India (ICELA), 1996

Reinforced Polluter Pays Principle.

SC made industries pay the full cost for remediation in a chemical contamination case. A key doctrinal case.

4. M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, 1997

Laid down the Public Trust Doctrine.

Court held the State is the trustee of natural resources like rivers, forests, lakes. Cannot transfer them for private use. Very frequent exam topic.

5. T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India, 1996

Gave a broad definition of “forest”.

SC said forest = dictionary meaning, not only Govt-notified forests. Basis for forest conservation jurisprudence.

6. Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar, 1991

Right to clean water and environment is part of Article 21.

Introduced environmental rights within the fundamental right to life. Very common AIBE PYQ.

7. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Ganga Pollution Case), 1988

Ordered closure of polluting tanneries along Ganga.

Strengthened the Court’s proactive role under Article 32. Good example of judicial activism in environmental protection.

8. Rural Litigation & Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) v. State of UP (Dehradun Quarrying Case), 1985

First major environmental PIL; protected ecology in Doon Valley.

Established that environmental degradation violates Article 21. PIL landmark.

9. A.P. Pollution Control Board v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu, 1999

Recognized Precautionary Principle + Scientific Expertise in environmental decisions.

Court emphasized expert bodies + scientific uncertainty, strengthening environmental governance.

10. Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, 2000

Upheld large dam construction but stressed Sustainable Development.

Balances development and environment; key for understanding sustainable development principle.