Mining and Forest Resources — Legal Precedents

Legal Precedents

T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India

1996 onwards

This ongoing series of judgments by the Supreme Court has profoundly shaped forest conservation jurisprudence in India. It expanded the definition of 'forest' to include not just…

Samatha v. State of Andhra Pradesh

1997

This landmark judgment prohibited the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals or private companies for mining purposes in Scheduled Areas. The Supreme Court held that mining leases…

Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd. v. Ministry of Environment & Forest

2013

Popularly known as the Niyamgiri judgment, this case affirmed the pivotal role of the Gram Sabha under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The Supreme Court ruled that the Gram…

Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India

2011

This case dealt with limestone mining in an ecologically fragile region of Meghalaya. The Supreme Court, while allowing the project with stringent conditions, articulated the…

Goa Foundation v. Union of India

2012, 2014

These judgments addressed the rampant illegal mining in Goa. The Supreme Court imposed a temporary ban on mining operations, cancelled all mining leases that had expired, and…