Climate Justice – 75 Years of Supreme Court 75 Judgments that Built Climate Jurisprudence in India

Climate Justice: 75 Years of Supreme Court —75 Judgments that Built Climate Jurisprudence in India is more than a legal compendium; it is a journey through seventy-five carefully selected judgments that reveal the evolution of India’s environmental consciousness.

Across seventy-five years of India’s independence, the judiciary has transformed the landscape of environmental protection, moving it from the periphery of governance to the very heart of constitutional responsibility. In this landmark work, leading environmental lawyer Sudhir Mishra who served as Amicus Curiae before the Supreme Court of India in carbon-emission matters— traces a constitutional narrative of how Indian courts have responded to the urgent cries of a weary planet.

From the widening of Article 21 to include the right to dignity and a healthy environment, to the recognition of rivers and forests as a sacred public trust, these decisions demonstrate that the Constitution is a living instrument capable of safeguarding both present and future generations. The book traces the constitutional evolution through insights into how landmark cases like Maneka Gandhi and M.C. Mehta shifted the law from a posture of dominion to one of stewardship. It highlights the judicial efforts to protect the ancient rhythms of the land, from the Great Indian Bustard to the migration corridors of tigers and elephants, towards achieving ecological balance.

The author has used the symbolic voice of the sparrow as a gentle conscience that sits beside each judgment to reflect on what we must remember and protect in our environment.