Environmental Protection and Contribution of Indian Judiciary through Public Interest Litigation

“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.” ........... E.B. White One of the most burning topic in the international as well as national scenario, today is the relationship between economic development accompanied with the desire for maximization of profits and ruthless competitiveness and the rapid deterioration of environment. Failure on the part of the governmental agencies to effectively enforce environmental laws and non-compliance with statutory norms by polluters resulted in an accelerated degradation of the environment. Environmental Jurisprudence has been a considerable share of initiative by the Indian judiciary with the relaxation of the rule of “Locus Standi” and the departure from the “Proof of injury” approach which has created a new form of legal action termed as Public Interest litigation (PIL) which is usually more efficient in dealing with environmental cases as these cases are concerned with the rights of the community rather than the individual. PIL is the result of judicial activism. The present paper attempts to analyze the dynamism and the spirit of protection of environment displayed by Indian Judiciary through PIL.Special Issue, December 201