Indian Polity & Governance·Landmark Judgments
Natural Resources — Landmark Judgments
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Landmark Judgments
Common Cause v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 114 of 2014 and connected matters (2 August 2017)
2017In the Odisha iron-ore and manganese litigation, the Court required recovery under section 21(5) of the MMDR Act of the full price of minerals mined illegally or unlawfully in the…
Orissa Mining Corporation Ltd. v. Ministry of Environment & Forest, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 180 of 2011 (18 April 2013)
2013The Niyamgiri bauxite case required the Gram Sabha to consider community, individual, cultural and religious claims, including the affected communities’ rights of worship. The…
Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 914 of 1991 (28 August 1996)
1996The Court used sustainable development to address conflict between an economically important industry and damage to land and water. It treated precaution and polluter pays as…