Court should be proactive in ensuring environmental justice: SC judge

Ranchi: Supreme Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna on Saturday stated that environmental justice is not merely a policy concern but a constitutional imperative.Addressing the Justice S B Sinha Memorial Lecture at National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL) here on the theme ‘Environmental Justice and Climate Change: How Courts Can Lead the Way Forward’, she highlighted the evolving role of judiciary in shaping environmental governance and underlined that courts must actively respond to ecological challenges through principled interpretation of the Constitution.She explained how Indian environmental jurisprudence has developed through key principles such as sustainable development, precautionary principle, polluter pays principle, public trust doctrine and intergenerational equity.She stressed that courts must go beyond traditional adjudication and adopt a forward-looking, precautionary and context-sensitive approach, especially in cases involving scientific uncertainty and irreversible environmental harm.

Justice Nagarathna further noted that environmental justice is closely linked with social equity and distributive fairness, as environmental harm disproportionately affects the poor and marginalised people. She called for greater judicial leadership, transparency in governance, and meaningful public participation in environmental decision-making.Chief Justice of Jharkhand high court and NUSRL chancellor M S Sonak stated that “while human laws may provide for appeals, the laws of nature do not provide the same”.

He cautioned against ignoring the growing environmental crisis, pointing to glacial melting, rising sea levels, greenhouse gas emissions, and food insecurity as warning signs that humanity must not overlook. Emphasising collective responsibility, he invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s words that “the Earth has enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed”.Justice Sonak also highlighted the critical role of institutions like NUSRL in addressing environmental stability through research, education and policy engagement.HC judges, faculty members, scholars, students, and invitees were present on the occasion. VC Ashok R Patil welcomed the dignitaries.