SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Program: B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 8101 & B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 8102 Semester: VIII
Module: Environmental Law Module Code:
Teaching Scheme Evaluation Scheme
Lecture Practical Tutorial Term End
Internal
(Hours (Hours (Hours Credit Examinations (TEE)
Continuous
per per per (Marks- 50
Assessment (ICA)
week) week) week) in Question Paper)
(Marks - 50)
4 0 0 4 Marks Scaled to 50 Marks Scaled to 50
Pre-requisite: Knowledge of Constitutional Law and Law of Torts
Objectives:
•
To enable the students to understand “Environment” and related concepts; kinds of
environmental problems such Pollution, Resource management, role of Indian
judiciary in developing environmental jurisprudence and international perspectives
to Environmental Law.
• To enable the students to connect the Environmental jurisprudence with the
Constitutional Jurisprudence and the human rights jurisprudence in India.
• To enable the students to analyze the impact of environmental concerns on corporates
in India and critically observe the development of the concept of ESG in Corporate
landscape.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. To be equipped with the knowledge of “Environment” and related concepts; kinds of
environmental problems such Pollution, Resource management, role of Indian
judiciary in developing environmental jurisprudence and international perspectives.
(PLO 1 a)
2. To critically analyse the right to Environment from a human rights perspective. (PLO
1 b)
3. To evaluate the impact of Pollution Control mechanism in India on Indian
environment from a socio-legal and corporate perspective. (PLO 3)
4. To demonstrate ability to connect evolving environmental and social governance
principles with India’s developing economy needs and global commitments (PLO 2b)
Detailed Syllabus: (per session plan)
Unit Description Duration
1. Environmental Law & Environment as a Human Right 3 Hrs
• Concept of “Environment”
• Jurisprudential Perspectives
• Nature, Scope & need for Environmental Law
2. Historical Perspective to Environmental Law 3 Hrs
• Sources of Environmental Law & its Multi-disciplinary nature
• India’s Ancient Approach towards Environment
• Public Nuisance & Environmental Degradation
Basic Reading:
M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, (1997) 1 SCC 388
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
3. Constitutional Mandate – 3 Hrs
Right to Wholesome Environment- Evolution and Application.
Relevant Provisions- Art. 14, 19(1), 21, 48A, 51-A(g).
Environmental Protection through Public Interest Litigation.
Basic Reading:
Art. 14, 19(1), 21, 48A, 51-A(g) of the Constitution of India
4. Cases on Constitutional Mandate 3 Hrs
M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1997 SC 734
Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC
1446
Vellore Citizen Welfare Forum v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 2715
A.P. Pollution Control Board v. M.V. Nayudu, AIR 1999 SC 812
Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, AIR 2000 SC 3751
5. International Environmental Law Perspective 3 Hrs
International Environmental Law Regime
Stockholm Conference on Human Environment, 1972
Rio Conference on Environment and Development, 1992 (Earth
Summit)
Basic Reading:
1. Stockholm and the Birth of Environmental Diplomacy, International
Institute for Sustainable Development,
https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-09/still-one-earth-
stockholm-diplomacy_0.pdf
2. Background of United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, UN,
https://www.un.org/en/conferences/environment/rio1992
6. International Environmental Law Perspective 3 Hrs
Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Climate Change 1992 & recent developments
Paris Agreement 2015
CoP 2026 and Climate Change
Basic Reading:
1. De Vann Sago, The Difficulties of Enforcing Global Environmental Law
(2019), https://www.law.georgetown.edu/environmental-law-
review/blog/214/
2. Key aspects of the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC,
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-
paris-agreement/key-aspects-of-the-paris-agreement
3. COP26: Together for our planet, UN,
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop26
7. Internal Principles of Sustainable Development & its judicial recognition 3 Hrs
in India
Public Trust Doctrine
Precautionary principle
8. Internal Principles of Sustainable Development & its judicial recognition 3 Hrs
in India
Polluter Pay Principle
Intergenerational Equity
9. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 3 Hrs
• Water Pollution-Definition.
• Central and State Pollution Control Boards- Constitution, Powers
andFunctions.
Basic Reading:
1. The Ganga Project, National Mission for Clean Ganga,
https://nmcg.nic.in/NamamiGanga.aspx#:~:text=%E2%98%85,rejuven
ation%20of%20National%20River%20Ganga
2. Video by National geographic “Chasing Rivers Part 2”
10. Water Pollution Contd. 3 Hrs
• Water Pollution Control Areas.
• Sample of effluents- Procedure; Restraint Order.
Consent requirement- Procedure, Grant/ Refusal, Withdrawal.
Basic Reading:
Section 2, 21-29 of the Act
11. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 3 Hrs
• Air Pollution- Definition.
• Central and State Pollution Control Boards- Constitution, Powers and
Functions.
• Air Pollution Control Areas.
• Sample of effluents- Procedure; Restraint Order.
• Consent requirement- Procedure, Grant/ Refusal, Withdrawal.
Basic Reading:
Section 2 and Section 19-22 of Air Pollution Act, 1981
12. Noise Pollution 3 Hrs
• Noise Pollution (Control and Regulation)
Rules, 2000
• Noise Pollution and Judicial Approach
Basic Reading:
1. Noise Pollution Rules 2000
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
2. Ranjit Singh, Legal Control of Noise
Pollution: A critical Evaluation, SCC Online,
https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2016
/07/27/legal-control-of-noise-pollution-a-
critical-evaluation/
13. Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. 3 Hrs
Meaning of ‘Environment’, ‘Environment Pollutant’, ‘and
EnvironmentPollution’.
Powers and Functions of Central
Government
Basic Reading:
Environmental Laws in India: Challenges for Enforcement, available at
https://www.sbsc.in/pdf/resources/1586097435_environmental_law.
pdf
14. Concepts of Environment Impact Assessment 3 Hrs
• What is EIA
• How is EIA conducted
• EIA in Govt. Projects v. Private Projects
• EIA Draft 2020
• Environmental Audit
Basic Reading:
1. Understanding EIA, Centre for Science and Development,
https://www.cseindia.org/understanding-eia-383
2. Opangmeren Jamir, India’s Environment Impact Assessment Draft 2020:
Issues and Challenges, IDSA ISSUE BRIEFS,
https://idsa.in/issuebrief/indias-environment-impact-assessment-
ojamir-080221
15. Environmental Social Governance ( ESG ) 3 Hrs
• What is ESG
• How is ESG conducted
• Comparative study of ESG Process in India, US and UK
Basic Reading:
An Introduction of ESG Disclosures in Indian Regulatory Space, Cyril
Amarchand Mangaldas,
https://corporate.cyrilamarchandblogs.com/2021/12/an-introduction-of-esg-
disclosures-in-indian-regulatory-space-part-1/
16. Workshop on ESG Process to be conducted by Industry Expert. 3 Hrs
17. Protection of Forests and Wild Life 3 Hrs
Indian Forest Act, 1927
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Forest Right Act, 2006
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Basic Reading:
Vedanta Industries case study, https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-
news/india-at-least-10-people-dead-during-protests-against-vedantas-
operations-co-responds/
18. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 3 Hrs
Authorities to be appointed and constituted under the Act.
Hunting of Wild Animals.
Protection of Specified Plants.
Protected Areas.
Basic Reading:
Article on Wildlife Conservation Strategies in India available at
https://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/69415913/hundal_edited_final_march_10.
pdf
19. Other Legislations 3 Hrs
• Public Liability and Insurance Act, 1991
• National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
Basic Reading:
1. Jeet Singh Kanwar v U.O.I Appeal no. 10 of 2011
2. M.P. Patil v U.O.I Appeal no. 12 of 2012
3. Adivasi Majdoor Kisan Ekta Sanghatan MoEF M.A. no.36 of 2011
4. Krishnakant Singh v National Ganga River Basin Authority 2014 ALL
(1) NGT Reporter (3) Delhi (1)
5. Vanashakti Public Trust & Stalin D. MPCB & ors Application
no.37/2013
Reference Reading:
Article on “Mechanisms of the National Green Tribunal” published in
National Law School of India Review Vol. 30, No. 1 (2018), pp. 74-85 (12 pages)
20. Impact of Drone Policy and Aviation Policy on Environment 3 Hrs
How drones impact wildlife
How flight paths impact migratory path of birds
Basic Reading:
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/delivery-drones-and-the-
environment/file
Total 60 Hrs
Text Books:
1. The Environmental Law in India--- P. Leela Krishnan. Lexis Nexis India, 2018 edition.
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Reference Books:
1. Environmental Justice in India, Gitanjali Nain Gill, Routledge, 2018
Edition
Any Other Information:
Latest Updated Statutes, Act, Rules and Regulations and Case Law to be taught after discussion
in Multi-Campus Program Coordination (MPC) Meeting.
Total Marks of Internal Continuous Assessment (ICA) - 50 Marks
Distribution of ICA Marks:
Description of ICA Marks
Test 1 20 Marks
Quiz 10 Marks
Group Discussion 10 Marks
Class Participation 10 Marks
Total Marks : 50 Marks
Signature
(Prepared by Ms. Sohini Shrivastav & Priya Kumari) (Approved by Dean)
Updated: October 2023
