In a ground-breaking judgment, the Supreme Court of India has underscored the critical imperative of addressing climate change while simultaneously safeguarding the nation’s ecological diversity.
Marking a historic departure from conventional legal narratives, the apex court has articulated a nuanced approach that reconciles India’s ambitious commitment to achieving ‘zero emissions’ by 2070 with the imperative of protecting the highly endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra disapproved the SC’s April 2019 order imposing a blanket restriction on overhead power transmission lines in 90,000 sq km that virtually crippled solar energy generating units in prime harvesting areas in Rajasthan and Gujarat and threatened to derail India’s target of increasing renewable energy capacity to 450 gigawatt (GW) by 2030.
The verdict, rendered on March 19 under the leadership of the Chief Justice of India, represents a pivotal moment in the country’s environmental jurisprudence. Media reports initially hinted at the lifting of a ban on overhead power transmission lines across a significant expanse of 77,000 square kilometres, with an exception carved out for the GIB’s core habitat spanning 13,000 square kilometres. However, a closer examination of the detailed judgment, made available on Sunday, reveals a judicious balancing act aimed at reconciling the imperatives of renewable energy production with the imperative of GIB conservation. The ban on overhead transmission lines, which had been imposed following environmentalist M K Ranjitsinh’s impassioned plea, stemmed from concerns over the significant mortality rate of bustards due to collisions with power lines.
This landmark ruling not only signifies the judiciary’s proactive role in addressing pressing environmental concerns but also underscores the need for a holistic approach to sustainable development. By acknowledging the intrinsic linkages between climate action and biodiversity conservation, the Supreme Court has set a precedent for harmonising India’s energy transition goals with its commitment to ecological integrity. The verdict heralds a new era of environmental jurisprudence wherein the imperatives of climate mitigation and wildlife preservation are viewed as complementary rather than conflicting objectives. As India charts its course towards a greener and more sustainable future, the Supreme Court’s visionary judgment serves as a guiding beacon, illuminating the path towards a harmonious coexistence between human development and ecological preservation.
