Environment

The Judicial Ouroboros: The Vanashakti Reversal & Crisis of Environmental Finality in India

Much comment was made about the obvious conflicts between two verdicts of the Supreme Court of India –the Vanshakti judgements—between May and November 2025 and as India lives with the consequences, it is essential to situate the dispute within the broader evolution of environmental constitutionalism in India.

Catch people’s attention on pollution narrative: “Switching to public transport can lower your heart attack risk by 10%.”

Messaging and communication are key and the Indian people’s lukewarm response to spiralling air pollution is because of this: Will campaigns such as “Wearing an N95 mask reduces your PM2.5 exposure by 95%” or “Switching to public transport can lower your heart attack risk by 10%” change this making people speak out?

K’taka: fisher-folk take to the sea in defiance of Honnavar port project

Amid heavy police crackdown and government indifference, fishermen in Kasarkod stage protests, risking their lives to halt the controversial port survey

Noise Pollution Ban: Unequal standards for diverse practices?

The recent Bombay High Court judgment (23rd January 2025) addresses the contentious issue of the use of loudspeakers at places of worship and their legal standing under Article 25 of the Constitution. The case was initiated following complaints by residents about persistent noise pollution caused by loudspeakers from religious institutions (masjids), particularly during early morning and late-night hours. The court examined whether such practices constituted an essential religious function or merely a cultural practice subject to regulation under existing noise pollution laws. The court ruled that loudspeakers are not an essential part of religious practice and directed the Maharashtra government and police to take strict action against violations of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. This ruling aligns with past judicial pronouncements while also raising questions about unequal enforcement of noise regulations across different religious communities.

Can the Swaraj path be India’s answer to climate change?

As climate change intensifies and the inadequacy of the...

From Madrid to Baku: A chronicle of inadequate climate action at UN Conferences

Why are international measures to mitigate Climate Change so slow and ineffective?

River Ganga, communities, cultures & livelihood: will Indians preserve its life-sustaining legacy?

The author’s simple point, addressed to the power elite is to stop destroying the identity of indigenous communities; a destruction of the Himalayas will bring unprecedented crisis to Gangetic plains in India and so, we must not do anything that escalates the crisis we already facing.

250+ activists from across India call for immediate release of Jammu and Kashmir’s environmental defenders

Support democratic and peaceful movements for safeguarding ecology in J&K and the entire Himalayan region says the detailed statement issued today

Detentions and intimidation of social and environmental activists in J&K arbitrary: NAPM

Expressing solidarity with recently detained Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) environmental activists,...

Faith v/s Environment: 17,600 trees felled in U.P. to pave way for proposed Kanwar Yatra route, fact-finding panel tells NGT 

The UP govt. plans to cut 33,776 trees in total for the controversial project, says joint committee; green tribunal directs govt. to clarify if number of trees to be axed has been calculated strictly in accordance with provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees Act reports The Hindu

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The Judicial Ouroboros: The Vanashakti Reversal & Crisis of Environmental Finality in India

Much comment was made about the obvious conflicts between two verdicts of the Supreme Court of India –the Vanshakti judgements—between May and November 2025 and as India lives with the consequences, it is essential to situate the dispute within the broader evolution of environmental constitutionalism in India.

Interfaith couple tied, hacked to death in Moradabad; woman’s brothers arrested in alleged honour killing

Bodies of Mohammad Arman and Kajal Saini were buried behind a temple after the brothers allegedly murdered them for their relationship; two accused taken into custody

CJM who ordered FIR against police for 2024 Sambhal violence case transferred by Allahabad HC, new trend?

CJM Vibhanshu Sudheer was among 14 judicial officers transferred by the Allahabad HC. He had ordered an FIR against then Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary and SHO in connection with the shooting of a youth during the violence. Drawing widespread criticism from lawyers and students, this move has been compared to similar recent transfers that point unfavourably to lasting judicial independence