Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

The Court was asked to clarify whether mining could be carried out beyond one kilometre from the boundary of a National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary when the proposed site lies within an Eco‑Sensitive Zone (ESZ). The petitioner argued that his mining lease, granted in 2005, was situated 2.26 km from the Radhanagari Wildl…

The State of Madhya Pradesh seized a tractor and trolley used for illegal sand excavation from the Chambal river under Section 52 of the Forest Act, 1927 (as amended by MP Act 25 of 1983) and initiated confiscation proceedings under Section 52(3). The respondent sought interim release of the seized vehicle under CrPC S…

The respondents sought to import a stuffed leopard trophy, a species listed in Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. They obtained a conditional licence from the DGFT and clearance from the Chief Wildlife Warden, both of which were expressly subject to CITES approval. CITES issued a…

The Steel Authority of India (SAIL) conducted an e‑auction for 1 lakh metric tonnes of iron‑ore fines, which Tycoon Traders won and paid the agreed price and security deposit. The contract was revalidated, but the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests refused permission to lift the ore because the Bhadra Wildlife Sanc…

Sansar Chand, a long‑time organiser of illegal wildlife trade, was convicted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for receiving leopard skins. The prosecution’s case rested on an extra‑judicial confession by a co‑accused, Balwan, which was corroborated by oral and documentary evidence, including recovered hunting …

M/S Natesan Agencies (a partnership firm) leased 197.36 acres of land from a Mutt for plantation. The land was included in a wildlife sanctuary by a notification under Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in 1976, after which a second 25‑year lease was purportedly executed in 1978. The State later excluded…

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) appealed against the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity’s (APTEL) order that held the deallocation of the Lohara Coal Blocks was a ‘Change in Law’ event under the Power Project Agreements (PPAs) and entitled Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd (APML) to restitutio…

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 appellant, Vishalakshi Amma, possessed a deer horn and filed an application for a certificate of ownership under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Declaration of Wildlife Stock Rules, 2003 on 25 May 2011, well beyond the 180‑day deadline prescribed in Rule 4(2) of the Rules. The Chief Wildlife Warden reje…

The State of Gujarat introduced a Capital Investment Incentive Scheme offering sales‑tax deferment to new industrial units that had to commence commercial production by a prescribed date. Essar Oil Ltd, a premier unit, was delayed in starting production because the Gujarat High Court, in several public‑interest litigat…

The Union of India sought a direction that the minutes of the 40th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) dated 23 April 2019 be placed on record so that the Supreme Court's embargo on the environmental clearance (EC) for the Mopa greenfield airport could be lifted. The Court examined whether the EAC had adequ…

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 the Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna, a project to widen about 900 km of national highways in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, which includes three strategic border roads. Environmental groups challenged the project before the National Green Tribunal, leading to the formation of a High Po…

The Hospitality Association of Mudumalai and other private land owners challenged the Tamil Nadu Government's notification of an elephant corridor on the Sigur Plateau, arguing that the corridor was not scientifically justified and that the State lacked statutory authority to create it. The High Court had upheld the no…

Salman Salim Khan was convicted under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. The Rajasthan High Court suspended his conviction, allowing him to travel abroad for his acting profession, but the UK denied his visa on the basis of the conviction. The State of Rajasthan…

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…

The petitioners sought a direction to the Union of India and the State of Chhattisgarh to prepare and fund a rescue plan for the endangered Asiatic Wild Buffalo, to prevent inter‑breeding with domestic buffalo and to relocate villages from Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary. The State of Chhattisgarh argued that it lacked suffi…

The Supreme Court considered appeals by CREDAI, Godrej Properties and Sai Sahara Developers challenging a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that applied the General Conditions (GC) of the EIA 2006 Notification to building and construction projects (Item 8(a)) and township projects (Item 8(b)) within 5 km of environme…

The appellant, Alsia Pardhi, filed a writ petition under Article 226 seeking the production of his 14‑year‑old niece, Rajnandani, alleging that forest officials had abducted her from a fish market. The State police, acting on the High Court's direction, recorded statements only of the forest officials and ignored eyewi…

The Supreme Court examined Tata Housing Development Co.'s attempt to construct a high‑rise housing project (CAMELOT) on 52.66 acres in Mohali, Punjab, which lay within 123 metres of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and inside the catchment area of Sukhna Lake. The appellants argued that the environmental clearance granted…

The appellant’s truck carrying 17 cow progeny was seized and the driver and others were arrested under the Madhya Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 2004 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The trial court acquitted all accused, finding no evidence of intent to slaughter, but the District Magistr…

Sterlite Industries obtained environmental clearance and consent orders to set up a copper smelter in Tuticorin in 1995. The Madras High Court ordered its closure, citing lack of a mandatory public hearing, violation of a 25‑km distance condition from an ecologically sensitive area, and an inadequate green‑belt require…