Environmental Responsibility — Landmark Cases

Landmark Cases

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

1987

This judgment introduced the 'Principle of Absolute Liability' into Indian environmental law, a significant departure from the British standard of 'Strict Liability'. It made…

Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum v. Union of India

1996

This landmark judgment firmly embedded the 'Precautionary Principle' and the 'Polluter Pays Principle' as essential features of the law of the land. The case dealt with pollution…

Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India (Bichhri Village Case)

1996

This case powerfully affirmed and applied the 'Polluter Pays Principle'. It dealt with a group of chemical industries in Bichhri village, Rajasthan, that had caused severe…