SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies

Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Program: B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 8101 & B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) 8102 Semester: VIII
Module: Environmental Law Module Code:

Teaching Scheme Evaluation Scheme

Lecture Practical Tutorial Term End
Internal
(Hours (Hours (Hours Credit Examinations (TEE)
Continuous
per per per (Marks- 50
Assessment (ICA)
week) week) week) in Question Paper)
(Marks - 50)
4 0 0 4 Marks Scaled to 50 Marks Scaled to 50
Pre-requisite: Knowledge of Constitutional Law and Law of Torts
Objectives:
•
To enable the students to understand “Environment” and related concepts; kinds of
environmental problems such Pollution, Resource management, role of Indian
judiciary in developing environmental jurisprudence and international perspectives
to Environmental Law.
• To enable the students to connect the Environmental jurisprudence with the
Constitutional Jurisprudence and the human rights jurisprudence in India.
• To enable the students to analyze the impact of environmental concerns on corporates
in India and critically observe the development of the concept of ESG in Corporate
landscape.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. To be equipped with the knowledge of “Environment” and related concepts; kinds of
environmental problems such Pollution, Resource management, role of Indian
judiciary in developing environmental jurisprudence and international perspectives.
(PLO 1 a)
2. To critically analyse the right to Environment from a human rights perspective. (PLO
1 b)
3. To evaluate the impact of Pollution Control mechanism in India on Indian
environment from a socio-legal and corporate perspective. (PLO 3)
4. To demonstrate ability to connect evolving environmental and social governance
principles with India’s developing economy needs and global commitments (PLO 2b)
Detailed Syllabus: (per session plan)
Unit Description Duration
1. Environmental Law & Environment as a Human Right 3 Hrs
• Concept of “Environment”
• Jurisprudential Perspectives
• Nature, Scope & need for Environmental Law
2. Historical Perspective to Environmental Law 3 Hrs
• Sources of Environmental Law & its Multi-disciplinary nature
• India’s Ancient Approach towards Environment
• Public Nuisance & Environmental Degradation
Basic Reading:
M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, (1997) 1 SCC 388
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

3. Constitutional Mandate – 3 Hrs

 Right to Wholesome Environment- Evolution and Application.
 Relevant Provisions- Art. 14, 19(1), 21, 48A, 51-A(g).
 Environmental Protection through Public Interest Litigation.

Basic Reading:
Art. 14, 19(1), 21, 48A, 51-A(g) of the Constitution of India
4. Cases on Constitutional Mandate 3 Hrs
 M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, AIR 1997 SC 734
 Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC
1446
 Vellore Citizen Welfare Forum v. Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 2715
 A.P. Pollution Control Board v. M.V. Nayudu, AIR 1999 SC 812
 Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, AIR 2000 SC 3751
5. International Environmental Law Perspective 3 Hrs
 International Environmental Law Regime
 Stockholm Conference on Human Environment, 1972
 Rio Conference on Environment and Development, 1992 (Earth
Summit)

Basic Reading:
1. Stockholm and the Birth of Environmental Diplomacy, International
Institute for Sustainable Development,
https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-09/still-one-earth-
stockholm-diplomacy_0.pdf
2. Background of United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, UN,
https://www.un.org/en/conferences/environment/rio1992
6. International Environmental Law Perspective 3 Hrs
 Convention on Biological Diversity
 Convention on Climate Change 1992 & recent developments
 Paris Agreement 2015
 CoP 2026 and Climate Change

Basic Reading:
1. De Vann Sago, The Difficulties of Enforcing Global Environmental Law
(2019), https://www.law.georgetown.edu/environmental-law-
review/blog/214/
2. Key aspects of the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC,
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-
paris-agreement/key-aspects-of-the-paris-agreement
3. COP26: Together for our planet, UN,
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop26

7. Internal Principles of Sustainable Development & its judicial recognition 3 Hrs

in India
 Public Trust Doctrine
 Precautionary principle
8. Internal Principles of Sustainable Development & its judicial recognition 3 Hrs
in India
 Polluter Pay Principle
 Intergenerational Equity
9. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 3 Hrs
• Water Pollution-Definition.
• Central and State Pollution Control Boards- Constitution, Powers
andFunctions.

Basic Reading:
1. The Ganga Project, National Mission for Clean Ganga,
https://nmcg.nic.in/NamamiGanga.aspx#:~:text=%E2%98%85,rejuven
ation%20of%20National%20River%20Ganga
2. Video by National geographic “Chasing Rivers Part 2”
10. Water Pollution Contd. 3 Hrs
• Water Pollution Control Areas.
• Sample of effluents- Procedure; Restraint Order.
 Consent requirement- Procedure, Grant/ Refusal, Withdrawal.

Basic Reading:
Section 2, 21-29 of the Act
11. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 3 Hrs
• Air Pollution- Definition.
• Central and State Pollution Control Boards- Constitution, Powers and
Functions.
• Air Pollution Control Areas.
• Sample of effluents- Procedure; Restraint Order.
• Consent requirement- Procedure, Grant/ Refusal, Withdrawal.

Basic Reading:
Section 2 and Section 19-22 of Air Pollution Act, 1981
12. Noise Pollution 3 Hrs
• Noise Pollution (Control and Regulation)
Rules, 2000
• Noise Pollution and Judicial Approach

Basic Reading:
1. Noise Pollution Rules 2000
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

2. Ranjit Singh, Legal Control of Noise

Pollution: A critical Evaluation, SCC Online,
https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2016
/07/27/legal-control-of-noise-pollution-a-
critical-evaluation/
13. Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. 3 Hrs
 Meaning of ‘Environment’, ‘Environment Pollutant’, ‘and
EnvironmentPollution’.
 Powers and Functions of Central
Government

Basic Reading:
Environmental Laws in India: Challenges for Enforcement, available at
https://www.sbsc.in/pdf/resources/1586097435_environmental_law.
pdf
14. Concepts of Environment Impact Assessment 3 Hrs
• What is EIA
• How is EIA conducted
• EIA in Govt. Projects v. Private Projects
• EIA Draft 2020
• Environmental Audit

Basic Reading:
1. Understanding EIA, Centre for Science and Development,
https://www.cseindia.org/understanding-eia-383
2. Opangmeren Jamir, India’s Environment Impact Assessment Draft 2020:
Issues and Challenges, IDSA ISSUE BRIEFS,
https://idsa.in/issuebrief/indias-environment-impact-assessment-
ojamir-080221
15. Environmental Social Governance ( ESG ) 3 Hrs
• What is ESG
• How is ESG conducted
• Comparative study of ESG Process in India, US and UK

Basic Reading:
An Introduction of ESG Disclosures in Indian Regulatory Space, Cyril
Amarchand Mangaldas,
https://corporate.cyrilamarchandblogs.com/2021/12/an-introduction-of-esg-
disclosures-in-indian-regulatory-space-part-1/

16. Workshop on ESG Process to be conducted by Industry Expert. 3 Hrs

17. Protection of Forests and Wild Life 3 Hrs

 Indian Forest Act, 1927
 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
 Forest Right Act, 2006
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Basic Reading:
Vedanta Industries case study, https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-
news/india-at-least-10-people-dead-during-protests-against-vedantas-
operations-co-responds/
18. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 3 Hrs
 Authorities to be appointed and constituted under the Act.
 Hunting of Wild Animals.
 Protection of Specified Plants.
 Protected Areas.

Basic Reading:
Article on Wildlife Conservation Strategies in India available at
https://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/69415913/hundal_edited_final_march_10.
pdf

19. Other Legislations 3 Hrs

• Public Liability and Insurance Act, 1991
• National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

Basic Reading:
1. Jeet Singh Kanwar v U.O.I Appeal no. 10 of 2011
2. M.P. Patil v U.O.I Appeal no. 12 of 2012
3. Adivasi Majdoor Kisan Ekta Sanghatan MoEF M.A. no.36 of 2011
4. Krishnakant Singh v National Ganga River Basin Authority 2014 ALL
(1) NGT Reporter (3) Delhi (1)
5. Vanashakti Public Trust & Stalin D. MPCB & ors Application
no.37/2013

Reference Reading:
Article on “Mechanisms of the National Green Tribunal” published in
National Law School of India Review Vol. 30, No. 1 (2018), pp. 74-85 (12 pages)

20. Impact of Drone Policy and Aviation Policy on Environment 3 Hrs

 How drones impact wildlife
 How flight paths impact migratory path of birds

Basic Reading:
https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/delivery-drones-and-the-
environment/file

Total 60 Hrs

Text Books:
1. The Environmental Law in India--- P. Leela Krishnan. Lexis Nexis India, 2018 edition.
 SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law

Reference Books:
1. Environmental Justice in India, Gitanjali Nain Gill, Routledge, 2018
Edition
Any Other Information:

Latest Updated Statutes, Act, Rules and Regulations and Case Law to be taught after discussion
in Multi-Campus Program Coordination (MPC) Meeting.

Total Marks of Internal Continuous Assessment (ICA) - 50 Marks

Distribution of ICA Marks:

Description of ICA Marks

Test 1 20 Marks
Quiz 10 Marks
Group Discussion 10 Marks
Class Participation 10 Marks
Total Marks : 50 Marks

Signature
(Prepared by Ms. Sohini Shrivastav & Priya Kumari) (Approved by Dean)

Updated: October 2023