Supreme Court (SC) has asserted in a judgment that forests in India are a national asset

Posted 20 Apr 2024

2 min read

SC observed this in the State Of Telangana vs Mohd. Abdul Qasim judgment case.

Key Highlights of the Judgement:
- Need to change from an anthropocentric to ecocentric approach: Former centers on the needs of man and views nature in the light of these needs. On the other hand, the latter enters on the needs of nature and views man in light of these needs.
  - Ecocentric approach is based on the recognition that humans, as but one part of life on earth, must live within their ecological limits rather than see themselves as the purpose of environmental protection.
- Contribution of forests to the financial wealth: A country with excess forest cover would be in a position to sell its excess carbon credit to the one in deficit.
  - Carbon sink of about 24,000 mt of CO₂ has a worth of $120 billion.
- Impact of forests against climate change: As per the RBI report, rising temperature and changing patterns of monsoon rainfall in India could cost the economy 2.8 % of its GDP.
SC also said that the concept of “Green Accounting” in evaluating a nation’s wealth, including its natural assets, would extend enormous benefits which are both tangible and intangible.

M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, (2000): Article 48A and 51A to be considered in light of Article 21 of the Constitution. Any disturbance of the basic environment elements, namely air, water and soil, which are necessary for “life”, would be hazardous to “life” within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution.
Municipal Corpn. of Greater Mumbai v. Ankita Sinha, (2022): Highlighted the concept of Environmental Justice and Environmental Equity.

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