SEMESTER- VIII

Semester – VIII
BALLB
Course Code Course Name Credits
Environment Law 5

Contact Hours Credits Assigned

Theory Practical Tutorial Theory Practical Tutorial Total

5 - - 05 - - 05
Term Work /
Theory
Practical/Oral
Internal Assessment Duration
End Total
Continuou Attendance Total Of End Term
Sem Pract. Oral
Test s Internal Sem Work
Exam
Evaluation Exam
20 05 05 30 70 3 Hours - - - 100

Course outcome
Students completing this course of Environmental Law will be able to:
1. Understand the Meaning and Importance of Environment and Natural Resources.
2. Analyze the Causes of Environmental Pollution and Its Impact on Living Organisms.
3. Trace the History and Evolution of Environmental Law.
4. Examine the Development of International Environmental Law and Principles.
5. Understand Constitutional and Legal Provisions for Environmental Protection.

Course Objectives
CO1- Meaning and importance of environment and natural resources
CO2- Reasons and causes of environmental pollution and its impact on living organisms.
CO3- History and origin of environmental law and its relevance in present times
CO4- Development of international environmental law and the various environmental law principles.
CO5- Constitutional and other legal provisions relating to environmental protection
 Detailed Syllabus

Module/ Marks
Course Module / Contents Hours
Unit Weightage
Introduction & Development of Environmental Law in India 5

Environment: Meaning, Definition, Concepts,

1.1 Components and Types.
Environment v. Development
1.2
Environmental pollution- Types and Sources
1.3 5
1
Protection of Environment during Ancient and
1.4 Medieval Period.
Protection of Environment during British Period
1.5
Introduction to environmental in independent India.
1.6
International Environmental Governance 20
Introduction to International Environmental
2.1 Governance
History and Development of International
2.2 Environmental Law- Major international instruments
for environmental protection
United Nations Conference on Human Environment,
1972 (Stockholm Conference) – Aims and Objectives
2.3 20
of the Conference, Outcomes and impact of Stockholm
Conference.
2 The Brundtland Commission, Brundtland Report 1987.
2.4

United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development, 1992 (Earth Summit)-Aims and
2.5
Objectives of the Conference, Rio Declaration 1992,
Agenda 21, UNFCCC.
Johannesburg Summit, 2002
2.6

Protection of Environment under the Indian Constitution & 20

Fundamental Principles
Introduction: Various Provisions, International
3.1 Obligations, 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
Directive Principles of State Policy and Environment
3.2
15
3.3 Fundamental Duties and Environment
3
Fundamental Rights and Environmental protection-
Judicial Role, Writ Jurisdiction, Expansion of Locus
3.4 Standi, PIL, Dynamic Interpretation of Constitutional
provisions.
 3.5 No Harm Principle;

3.6 Sustainable Development;

3.7 Precautionary Principle/Approach;

3.8 Polluter Pays Principle;

3.9 Absolute Liability Principle;

3.10 Strict Liability Principle;

3.11 Public Trust Doctrine;

3.12 Doctrine of Inter-Generational Equity;

3.13 Principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility.

Environmental Protection: Introduction to the laws in India 20
4.1 Criminal Laws : Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, Bhartiya
Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
4.2 Companies Act, 2013 : Corporate Social Responsibility
4.3 Public Nuisance under IPC and CrPC,
4.4 Tort Actions-Damages and injunction, Nuisance,
4 Negligence, Strict liability and absolute liability, 10
Bhopal Litigation.
4.5 Other Remedies: Class Actions and Suits under CPC,
Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
4.6 Public Participation in Environmental Decision
Making.
4.7 Salient features of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.

5 Protection of Water, Air and Environment in India 5 20

5.1 The Environment Protection Act (EPA) of 1986 - Main

Aims and Objectives of the Act, importance of Section
3 and 5 of EPA, Violation and Penalties under the Act –
EIA Notifications/Various Rules under the Act- An
appraisal
5.2 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of
1981/ The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control)
Rules, 2000 - The Framework of the Act, Regulatory
Mechanism: Its Powers and Functions, Offences and
Penalties under Air Act, Role of Judiciary in Prevention
of Air Pollution/Noise Pollution – An appraisal.
5.3 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of
1974 - The Framework of the Act, Regulatory
Mechanism: Its Powers and Functions, Offences and
Penalties under Water Act, Role of Judiciary in
Prevention of Water Pollution – An Appraisal.

6 Protection of Forest, Wild Life and Biodiversity 5 15

 6.1 Importance of Forest and need for its Conservation,
Indian Forest Act, 1927: Forest Conservation Act, 1980;
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006; PESA 1996
and Judicial Approach for Forest Conservation. – An
overview

6.2 Salient Features of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

6.3 Biodiversity Conservation- The Biological Diversity

Act, 2002 and its Salient Features

Total 65 100

Recommended Books:
1. Paras Diwan: Studies on Environmental Cases.
2. S.N. Jain (ed.): Pollution Control and the Law.
3. Armin Rosencranzand Shyam Divan: Environmental Law and Policy in India.
4. A.Agarwal (ed.): Legal Control of Environmental Pollution
5. Chetan Singh Mehta: Environmental Protection and Law
6. V.K. Krishna Iyer: Environment Pollution and Law
7. Shah : Environmental Law
8. Paras Diwan : Environmental Law and Policy in India,1991
9. Dr. N. Maheshwara Swamy, Environmental Law, Asia Law House, Hyderabad.
10. SC Shastri, Environmental Law, EBC Reader

Case:
1. Centre For Environment Law, WWF-I v. Union of India & Others, Supreme Court, I.A. No.
100 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 337 of 1995, decided on 15 April 2013
2. Church of God (Full Gospel) in India v. KKR Majestic Welfare Colony Welfare Association,
AIR 2000 SC 2773
3. Divya Pharmacy v Union of India, High Court of Uttarakhand, WP 3437/2016, Decided on 21
December 2018.
4. Forum Prevention of Envn. & Sound Pollution v. Union of India, AIR 2005 SC 3136
5. Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India, (2011) 12 SCC 768
6. Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 1446
7. Intellectuals Forum, Tirupathi v. State of A.P., AIR 2006 SC 1350
8. Jitendra Singh v. Ministry of Environment & Ors., Supreme Court, Civil Appeal No.
5109/2019, decided on 25 November 2019
9. M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, 2002 (2) SCALE 654
10. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 1115
11. M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, (1997) 1 SCC 388
12. M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, AIR 2000 SC 1997
13. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 1037
14. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1997 SC 734
15. M/s Delhi Bottling Co. Pvt. Ltd. v. Central Board for the Prevention and Control of Water
Pollution, AIR 1986 Del. 152
16. MC Mehta v Union of India, 1987 AIR 1086 (Oleum Gas Leak case)
17. Municipal Council, Ratlam v. Vardichand, (1980) 4 SCC 162
18. Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, AIR 2000 SC 3751
19. Orissa Mining Corporation v Ministry of Environmetn and Forest, (2013)6 SCC 476
20. Sansar Chand v State of Rajasthan, 2010 (10) SCC 604
21. Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra v. State of U.P., (1985) 2 SCC 431
22. S. Jagannath v. Union of India, AIR 1997 SC 811
23. Sachidanand Pandey v. State of West Bengal, AIR 1987 SC 1109
24. State of M.P. v. Kedia Leather & Liquor Ltd., AIR 2003 SC 3236
25. Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar, AIR 1991 SC 420
26. Techi Tagi Tara v. Rajendra Singh Bhandari & Ors, Supreme Court, Civil Appeal No.
1359/017, Judgement of 22 September 2017.
27. T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v Union of India (all important cases)
28. Union Carbide Corporation v Union of India, AIR 1992 SC 248
29. Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 2715