Supreme Court of India

Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India and Ors.

Neutral citation

Bench Kuldip Singh, Faizan Uddin and K. Venkataswami JJ.

Decided 28 August 1996

INSC stands for INDIAN SUPREME COURT. A neutral citation scheme assigned by the Court itself, so a judgment can be cited without depending on a commercial law reporter. INSC is the neutral citation scheme assigned by the Supreme Court, so a judgment can be cited without depending on a commercial law reporter.

29 Supreme Court benches have cited this judgment.

What the Court ordered

We direct the Registry of this Court to send the records to the registry of the Madras High Court within one week. The High Court shall treat this matter as a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and deal with it in accordance with law and also in terms of the directions issued by us.

Judgment, p. 272

From the headnote

Environmental Law : Constitution of India, 1950 : Articles 21, 47, 48-A and 51-A(g). Environmental pollution-Caused by tanneries-Untreated effluent by tanneries in State of Tamil Nadu---Discharge of-Thereby polluted sub-soil river water resulting in non-availability of potable water-Spoiled physico-chemical properties of soil, making it unfit for cultivation-Held : even though such industries were of vital importance to country, they could not be permitted to continue their production unless pollution control devices were set up by them-Having regard to pollution caused by them, principle of Sustainable Development had to be accepted as a balancing concept…

Authorities it was built on

1984 Gramophone Company of India Ltd. v. Birendra Bahadur Pandey & Ors. cited by 17

Where later benches applied it

2025 Delhi Pollution Control Committee v. Lodhi Property Co. Ltd. Etc. relied on
2024 Gene Campaign & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. relied on
2024 In Re : T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India & Ors. relied on
2021 Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai v. Ankita Sinha & Ors. relied on
2018 M.C. Mehta v. Union of India & Ors. relied on
2013 Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and Ors. v. Kohinoor Ctnl Infrastructure Company Private Limited and Another relied on
2012 T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad v. Union of India & Others relied on
2026 Harbinder Singh Sekhon v. The State of Punjab referred to
2025 Vanashakti v. Union of India referred to
2025 IN RE: ZUDPI JUNGLE LANDS versus referred to
2025 The Auroville Foundation v. Navroz Kersasp Mody & Ors referred to
2025 Vellore District Environment Monitoring Committee Rep. by its Secretary Mr. R. Rajebdran v. The District Collector, Vellore District & Others referred to
2024 Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. referred to
2024 Vedanta Limited v. The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors referred to
2023 Kaushal Kishor v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. referred to
2022 The State of Rajasthan and Another v. Ultratech Cement Ltd referred to
2022 Madhya Pradesh High Court Advocates Bar Association and Anr v. Union of India and Anr referred to
2021 Rajeev Suri v. Delhi Development Authority & Ors referred to
2019 Tata Housing Development Company Ltd v. Aalok Jagga and Others referred to
2019 Hanuman Laxman Aroskar v. Union of India referred to
2017 Arjun Gopal and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors. referred to
2016 Arjun Gopaland Ors v. Union of India & Ors. referred to
2015 Commissioner of Customs, Bangalore v. M/s. G. M. Exports & Others referred to
2014 Gulf Goans Hotels Co. Ltd. & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors. referred to
2013 G. Sundarrajan v. Union of India and Ors. referred to
2025 Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (credai) v. Union of India & Others mentioned
2022 Pragnesh Shah v. Dr. Arun Kumar Sharma & Ors. mentioned
2013 Suresh Kumar Koushal and Another v. Naz Foundation and Others mentioned
2013 Ster Lite Industries (india) Ltd. Etc. Etc. v. Union of India & Ors. Etc. Etc. mentioned

Of those, 7 relied on · 18 referred to · 4 mentioned

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