Create a custom practice set
Pick category, difficulty, number of questions, and time limit. Start instantly with your own quiz.
Generate QuizGK Question
In Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court recognized sustainable development, precautionary principle, and polluter pays principle as part of environmental law under Article 21, balancing development needs with ecological sustainability.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Vellore Citizens (1996) sustainable development principles: (a) Context: Petition regarding pollution of river Palar by tanneries in Tamil Nadu; issue of balancing industrial development with environmental protection, (b) Supreme Court holding: (i) Recognized sustainable development as part of environmental law under Article 21: Development must meet present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs, (ii) Precautionary principle: State must anticipate, prevent, attack causes of environmental degradation; lack of scientific certainty cannot postpone preventive measures, (iii) Polluter pays principle: Those causing pollution bear cost of remediation, prevention; polluters internalize environmental costs, (c) Applications: (i) Industrial regulation: Tanneries directed to install effluent treatment plants, pay for environmental remediation, (ii) Environmental impact assessments: Mandatory for development projects to assess, mitigate environmental impact, (iii) Climate litigation: Principles applied to challenge coal projects, emission norms based on sustainable development, (d) Subsequent developments: (i) National Green Tribunal: Applies sustainable development principles in environmental dispute resolution, (ii) International alignment: Principles align with Rio Declaration, Paris Agreement, global environmental governance, (e) Rationale: (i) Intergenerational equity: Present generation holds environment in trust for future generations, (ii) Preventive action: Precautionary principle enables preventive action despite scientific uncertainty, (iii) Accountability: Polluter pays ensures environmental costs internalized, not externalized to society, (f) Illustrates adaptive constitutionalism: Article 21 interpreted to include environmental principles; sustainable development balances development needs with ecological sustainability through calibrated judicial review.