Indian Economy·Key Judgments
Environmental Economics — Key Judgments
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Key Judgments
Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 967 of 1989 and connected matters (13 February 1996)
1996The Bichhri chemical-pollution judgment placed the cost of remedial measures on the responsible industries. It applied liability for hazardous activities and the polluter-pays…
Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 914 of 1991 (28 August 1996)
1996The Court treated precaution and polluter pays as elements of sustainable development in the tannery dispute. It required assessment both of individual losses and the cost of…
A.P. Pollution Control Board II v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu, Civil Appeal Nos. 368–373 of 1999 (1 December 2000)
2000The Court rejected reliance on assurances about safe handling of hazardous material near drinking-water reservoirs after examining expert evidence on possible pollution pathways.…