Human rights and environment protection in India: The judicial journey from public interest litigation to the national green tribunal

This chapter focuses on how the Indian judiciary has applied a human rights lens to analyse and address environmental protection. Two human rights, the right to a healthy environment and the right to development are examined in this context. Recognising and promoting the intertwined relationship between human rights and environmental protection is crucial. The developments presented in this chapter chart the approach adopted by the Supreme Court of India by locking together constitutionally protected human rights and environmental protection through the use of Public Interest Litigation [PIL]. Particular emphasis is placed upon the jurisprudence of the recently created National Green Tribunal [NGT] India, which is the new forum for environmental disputes.