Biological Diversity Act, 2002

The Supreme Court examined the constitutional validity of Section 45(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, which imposes two additional conditions for granting bail when the offence involves a scheduled offence punishable with imprisonment of more than three years under Part A of the Schedule. The Court h…

The Supreme Court considered an interlocutory application filed by environmental activist T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad seeking protection for the sacred groves, known as Orans, in Rajasthan. The Court examined the statutory framework, including the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (as amended in 2023), the Wildlife Protect…

The Auroville Foundation appealed against the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) directions that required it to prepare a new township plan and to obtain environmental clearance before completing the Crown Road and other roads in Auroville, alleging that the Tribunal had exceeded its jurisdiction. The respondents, residen…

The Court examined a petition seeking direction to relocate the critically endangered Asiatic lion from its sole habitat in Gir, Gujarat, to Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, as a second home for long‑term survival. Scientific studies by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) …

The Supreme Court examined petitions seeking to declare sandalwood (Santalum album) and red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) as "specified plants" under Section 2(27) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and to include them in Schedule VI. The Court noted that while Indian sandalwood is listed as "vulnerable" in t…