Supreme Court of India· 17 April 2026

Is protection of the environment part of the right to life guaranteed under Article 21?

In Re: Illegal Sand Mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and Threat to Endangered Aquatic Wildlife

2026 INSC 380 · WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 2 OF 2026
Coram: Sandeep Mehta; Vikram Nath

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Answer

Yes — protection of natural resources and fragile ecosystems is an integral facet of the right to life under Article 21, and not merely a matter of regulatory compliance.

Headnote

Constitution of India, 1950 — Art. 142 — Art. 21 — Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 — Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — Illegal sand mining — Environmental protection — Interim directions — Constitution of India, 1950 — Art. 142 — Interim directions — pending completion of pleadings — Held: Where illegal sand mining in a protected sanctuary has caused loss of enforcement personnel's lives and continuing ecological harm, the Court may issue interim directions under Article 142 without awaiting completion of pleadings, given the disclosed urgency. (¶16, 17) Constitution of India, 1950 — Art. 21 — Environmental protection — integral facet of right to life — Held further: Protection of fragile ecosystems is an integral facet of the right to life under Article 21, not mere regulatory compliance, requiring authorities to act with urgency; directions for surveillance and enforcement issued, application disposed of. (¶21, 24)

In the Court's own words

Paragraph 21The directions issued hereinabove are in furtherance of this Court’s constitutional obligation to uphold the rule of law and to ensure effective protection of the environment, which forms an integral facet of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The issues arising in the present matter transcend mere questions of regulatory compliance and strike at the very heart of environmental governance. The protection of natural resources and fragile ecosystems is not only a statutory obligation but a constitutional imperative. The continued degradation of natural resources and 27 fragile ecosystems for short-term gains and greed, coupled with administrative indifference, cannot be countenanced in a system governed by the rule of law. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all concerned authorities to act with a sense of responsibility, urgency, and commitment, so as to ensure that the balance between development and environmental preservation is meaningfully sustained for present and future generations.

Acts & Sections

Art. 142 Constitution of India, 1950Art. 21 Constitution of India, 1950Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

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Also decided in this judgment

Can the Supreme Court issue interim directions under Article 142 without waiting for pleadings to be completed?

Plain-language answer prepared by the LexStreak Editorial Desk — verify against the judgment. Source: Supreme Court of India. Corrections