M.C. MEHTA versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

Citation: [1991] SUPP. 2 S.C.R. 378 · Decided: 22-11-1991 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: RANGANATH MISRA, G.N. RAY, A.S. ANAND · Disposal: Disposed off
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Judgment (excerpt)

A 
B 
c 
M.C. MEHTA 
v. 
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. 
NOVEMBER 22, 1991 
[RANGANATH MISRA, CJ., G.N. RAY AND A.S. ANAND JJ.] 
Environment Pollution Act : Public Interest Litigation-Protection 
of environment and keeping it free from pollution--lndispensable neces-
sity for life on earth--Directions given to exhibit Cinema slides, films on 
various aspecis of environment and pol/ution--Awareness of environment 
to be taught as compulsory subject. 
This application is in public interest seeking relief for issuing 
appropriate directions of this Court to Cinema, exhibition halls to 
exhibit slides containing information and messages on environment 
D · free of cost. Further directions for spread of information relating to 
environment in national and regional languages vide broadcast thereof 
on the All India Radio, exposure thereof on television in regular 
and short term programmes with a view to educating the people of 
India about their social obligation in the matter of the upkeep of the 
environment in proper shape and making them alive to their obliga-
E 
F 
G 
tion not to act as polluting agencies or factors. It is further prayed 
that environment should be made a compulsory subject in schools 
and colleges in a graded system so that there would be a general 
growth of awareness. 
Till 1972 general awareness of mankind to the environment for 
the well being of mankind bad not been appropriately appreciated. 
In 1975 the Constitution underwent an.amendment by incorporating 
an Article 51A with the beading "Fundamental Duties" Clause (g) 
thereof requires every citizen to protect and improve the natural 
environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to 
have compassion for every living creature. In 1974 Water Pollution 
Central Act came on the statues book. In 1981 Air Pollution (Cen-
tral Act) and finally in 1986 the Environment Protection Act were 
enacted. 
· 
Law is a regulator of huma.n· conduct but no law can indeed 
effectively work unless there ·i& an element of acceptance by the 
H 
people in society. 
378 
MEJITA v. U.0.1. 
379 
There bas been an explosion of human population, over the 
A 
last SO years. Life bas become competitive so the age old norms of 
good living are no longer followed. It bas therefore, become neces-
sary that people be made aware of vice of pollution and its level of 
consequences. Keeping the citizen informed is an obligation of the 
Government as well as the responsibility of society to adequately 
educate every component of it so that social level is kept up. 
B 
Disposing of the matter, the Court, 
HELD : The principle on which the prayer is made is accepted 
and the following directions are issued. 
1. That the Central Government, the State Government and 
Union Territories should invariably enforce as a condition of license 
of all cinema balls, touring cinemas and video parlours to exhibit 
free of cost at least two slides/messages on environment in each 
show undertaken by them. The Ministry of Environment should 
within two months from now come out with appropriate slide mate-
rial on various aspects of environment and pollution. This material 
should be circulated to the collectors who are the licensing authori-
ties for compliance without any further directions and failure to 
comply with the Court order should be treated as a ground for 
cancellation of the licence by the appropriate authorities. (382 A-C) 
2. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Gov-
ernment of India should without delay start pronouncing informa-
tion films of short duration on various aspects of environment and 
pollution bringing out the benefits for society on the environment 
protection and hazardous involved in environment pollution. [382 
DJ 
3. The national network, the State Door Darshan Centres, All 
India Radio, Television sMuld take proper steps to exhibit such 
films and interesting programmes on the subject. There should be 
regular compliance of these directions be followed from February 1, 
1992. (382 G-HJ 
4. The principle that through the medium of educational aware-
ness of the environment and its pollution problems should be taught 
as a compulsory subject at every level of education. University Grants 
Commission should prescribe a course on environment in a grade4 
manner as a compulsory subject in college education. The compl~
ance of this requirement be done in the next academic year. [383 
A-CJ 
c 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 
380 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[1991)
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