Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

A Project on Directive Principles of the State Policy And Environmental AnalysisA ConstitutionalPerspective

SUBMITTED TO: - MR. RANA NAVNEET ROY FACULTY, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

SUBMITTED BY: -OM KUKREJA ROLL NO- 86 SEMESTER IV; BATCH XII

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT....Pg 3 OBJECTIVES...Pg 4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...Pg. 5

A. Constitutional Provision And The Environmental Protection. Pg. 6 B.Constitution Of India, 1950 Vs. Environmental (Protection) Act , 1986.. Pg.7 B.1 Directive Principles of State Policy..Pg.13
CONCLUSION.Pg. 14 BIBLIOGRAPHY..Pg. 15

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, I am thankful to Mr. Rana Navneet Roy, Faculty of Economics, HNLU, for allotting me a very interesting topic i.e. Directive Principles of State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Prospective to work as a project on Economics. She has been very kind in providing inputs for this work, by way of suggestions and materials. I would also like to thank my dear colleagues and friends in the University, who have helped me with ideas about this work. Last, but not the least I thank the University Administration for equipping the University with such good library and internet facilities, without which, no doubt this work would not have taken the shape in correct time.
Om Kukreja ROLL NO.-86, Sec. -C
SEMESTER IV; BATCH XII

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

OBJECTIVES
To discuss about Constitutional Provision And The Environmental Protection To discuss the various Constitutional Provisions relating to Environmental Protection. To make a Comparision between Constitution of India,1950 and Environmental (Protection) Act , 1986

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The focus of my study is to prepare an overview of the project Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective, which was possible by an extensive research over the internet. Books have also been referred for the completion of the project. Thus the secondary sources of data have been used for dealing with the project.

Om Kukreja Sec-C Sem IV, Batch XII

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

INTRODUCTION:
The Constitution firmly believes in building and maintaining national preventive safety and health culture for the citizens. With a view to develop such a culture and to improve the safety, health and environment at work place and domestic areas, it is essential to meet the certain requirements like, providing a statutory framework on Occupational safety and Health in respect of all sectors of industrial activities including the construction sector, designing suitable control systems of compliance, enforcement and incentives for better compliance, providing administrative and technical support services, providing a system of incentives to employers and employees to achieve higher health and safety standards, providing for a system of non-financial incentives for improvement in safety and health, Including safety and occupational health as an int egral part of every operation. Right to healthy environment and its protection and the right to development are group-rights and are loosely descr ibed as third generation rights.The right to sustainable development has been declared by the UN General Assembly as an inalienable human right . The Declaration recognizes that human being is the central subject of the development process and that the development policy shall make the human being the main participant and beneficiary of development.Developmentis defined as a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well being of the entire population in development and in the fair distribution of benefits therefrom. The Rio Conference of 1992 declared human beings as centres of concern for sustainable development . Human beings are, said,to be entitled to a healthy and protective life in harmony with nature (Principle1). In order to achieve sustainable developmentenvironmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation of it .The 1997 Earth Summit meeting of 100 nations in NewYork affirmed these principles. The Commission recomends that after the proposed article 30-C, the following article may be added as article 30- D :-

Art . 30-D. Right to safe drinking water, prevention of pollution, conservation of ecology and sustainable development Every person shall have the right (a) To safe drinking water; (b) To an enviro nment that is not harmful to ones health or well-being; and (c) to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generat ions so as to(i) prevent pollution and ecological degradat ion; (ii) promote conservat ion; and secure ecologically sustainable de velopment and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

A. Constitutional Provision and the Environmental Protection

1. Constitution Forty Second Amendment: - In 1976, under the leadership of the then Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi, the Constitution (Forty Second Amendment) Act was passed and the provisions relating to the protection of environment for the first time were incorporated by adding a new provision Article 48-A in the Chapter, Directive Principles of State Policy. According to Article 48-A the State shall Endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Further, a new provision Article 51-A in the form of Fundamental Duties was also incorporated by the 42nd Amendment. According to the sub-clause (g) of Art. 51-A, it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures. The above two provision impose two-fold responsibilities. On the one hand, it gives directive to the State for protection and improvement of environment, and on the other hand it casts/imposes a duty on every citizen to help in the preservation of natural environment. 2. Federal System of Government (Distribution of Legislative Power):From environmental point of view, allocation of legislative authority is very important. The constitution of India deals exhaustively with legislative powers pertaining to environmental law. The legislative powers under the scheme of the constitution is divided into three lists viz., the Union List or List I, the State List or List II, the Concurrent List or List III. Part XI (Arts. 245-263) of the constitution provides for the distribution of legislative powers between the union and the states. Article 246 distributes the subjects of legislative power in these three lists between the Centre and the States. The union list contains 97 subjects and the Parliament alone has the power to legislate. The State List contains 66 subjects and the States have power to legislate. However, in respect of Concurrent List, which contains 52 subjects, both the Parliament and the State Legislatures have the power to legislate. There are about 200 Central and State Legislation on environmental protection. The most important environmental legislation, passed by the parliament under Art. 249 of the Constitution are The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

3. Fundamental Rights:- Part III of the Constitution, containing Arts. 12 to 35, deals with fundamental rights. Articles 15(2)(b); Art. 21 and Art. 24 provide for specific provision for environmental protection. Article 15(2)(b):- According to Art. 15(2)(b), No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them be subjected to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to: the use of wells, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort, maintained wholly or partly out for state funds or dedicated to the use of general public:. In simple words, Art. 15(2) prohibits discrimination on the ground of sex, race, religion, caste, place of birth etc. to make use of the public places the general public. The public places, which are part and parcel of the human environment should be made available to the public. The preamble to our constitution ensures socialistic pattern of the society and decent standard of life, which can be pollution free environment. Article 21:- According to Article 21 of the constitution, no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. Article 21 is the heart of the fundamental rights and has received expanded meaning from time to time after the decision of the Supreme Court in Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India, (AIR 1978 SC 597). Art. 21 guarantees a fundamental right to life a life of dignity to be lived in a proper environment, free of danger of disease and infection. The right to live in a healthy environment as part of Art. 21 of the Constitution was first recognized in the case of. Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra vs. State of U.P., AIR 1988 SC 2187 (Popularly known as Dehradun Quarrying Case). It is the first case of this kind in India, involving issues relating to environment and ecological balance. The R.L. & E. Kendra and others in a letter to the Supreme Court complained about the illegal / unauthorized mining in the Missouri, Dehradun belt. As a result, the ecology of the surrounding area was adversely affected and it led to the environmental disorder. The Supreme Court treated the letter as writ petition under Art. 32 of the Constitution and directed to stop the excavation (illegal mining) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The respondents contended / argued that the write petition was registered in 1983 and the Environment (Protection) Act was passed in 1986 and hence the criminal proceedings cannot be initiated with retrospective effect. The court rejected the
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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

contention of the respondents and held that the provisions of procedural law shall apply to ordinary criminal cases and not to the environmental cases. The court directed the Central and State Governments to take necessary steps to prevent illegal mining and to re-afforesation in the area of mining. In M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India, AIR 1987 SC 1086 (Popularly known as Oleum Gas Leak Case) The Supreme Court treated the right to live in pollution free environment as a part of fundamental right to life under Art. 21 of the Constitution. Further the A.P. High Court in T. Damodar Rao vs. S.O., Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad, (AIR 1987 A.P. 171) laid down that right to live in healthy environment was specially declared to be part of Art. 21 to the Constitution. Article 24: Article 24 of the Constitution speaks about exploitation of child labour. It says that No child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to wok in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment this provisions is certainly in the interest of public health and part of the environment. Further, Art. 39 (e) and 39 (f) under Directive Principles of State Policy provide for the protection of the health and strength of children below the age of 14 years. In peoples Union for Democratic Rights vs. Union of India, (AIR 1982 SC 1473), the Supreme Courtheld that the prohibition under Art. 24 could be enforced against any one, be it the State or private individual. In pursuance of this obligation, parliament enacted the Child Labour (prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. The Act prohibits specifically the employment of children in certain industries. 4. Directive Principles of State Policy:- Part IV of the Constitution, Containing Articles 36 to 51, deals with Directive Principles of State Policy. The directive principles form the fundamental feature and are designed to achieve socio economic goals. Art. 39 (a), which was inserted by the Constitution 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 provides for Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid. It promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunities. It imposes an imperative duty upon the State to provide free legal aid to the poor litigant so as to secure him equal protection of laws against his well to do opponent. 1. Equal right of men and women to adequate means of livelihood. 2. Distribution of ownership and control of the material resources community to the common good. 3. To ensure that the economic system should not result in concentration of wealth and means of production
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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

to the common detriment. 4. Equal pay for equal work for both men and women. 5. To protecthealth and strength of workers and tender age of children and to ensure that they are not forced by economic necessity to entire avocations unsuited to their age or strength; and 6. That children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment. Article 39(b):- The expression material source under Art. 39 (b) means all things, which are capable producing wealth for the community. In includes those, which are already vested in the State but also in the hands of private individuals. Further, the expression distribution in Art. 39 (b) does not mean that ones property is taken over and is distributed to others. It also includes nationalization which is an effective means to prevent concentration of wealth in a few hands so as to benefit the society at large. Article 39(1):- Art. 39(1) was amended by the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976 with a view to emphasize the constructive role of the State with regard to children. Article 47:- Art. 47 provides that the State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties. The improvement of public health also includes the protection and improvement of environment without which public health cannot be assured. Article 48:- It deals with organization of agriculture and animal husbandry. Art. 48 directs the State to take steps to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines. In particular, it should take steps for preserving and improving the breeds and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle. Article 49:-It deals with protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance. Art. 49 requires the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest (declared by or under law made by parliament to be of national importance) from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export.

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

5. Fundamental Duties (51-A):- Art. 51-A was added under the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act. 1976, which deals with 'Fundamental Duties' under Part IV-A. Art. 51 -A enlists ten fundamental duties designed for restructuring and building a welfare society 'State Art. 51 -A(g) specifically deals with the fundamental duty with respect to environment. It provides "it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures.

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

B. CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, 1950 VS. ENVIRONMENTAL ( PROTECTION) ACT , 1986

It is to be noted that Article 48-A of the Constitution of India which was inserted by the Constitution (42nd Amendment ) Act , 1976, with effect from 3-1- 1977, in Part IV of the Const itut ion of Ind ia containing the Directive Principles of State Policy states that "the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country". Art icle 51-A(g) in Part IV- A containing Fundamental duties which was inserted by the Constitution (42 nd Amend ment ) Act , 1976 with effect from 3-1- 1977, envisages that " it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural enviro nment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures". In the view of above Constitutional provision it is clear that the Constitut ion of India, 1950 itself contains provisions for protection and improvement of enviro nment . In other words the Constitution imposes duty on the Governments and citizens alike to put combined efforts and take appropriate measures for protection and improvement of natural environment and all creatures. In a number of cases the Supreme Court of India has passed directions to the Central Government and the authorities to take measures in the fie ld of environment protection and the Court has gone to the ext ent of declaring that by virtue of Article 21 of the Constitution of India every citizen has a right to healthy, environmental pollution free life and personal liberty. In another case the Andhra Pradesh High Court in T. Damodar Rao v. The Special Of ficer, Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, has he ld that Article 48-A of the Co nstitution imposes an obligation on the Government and Courts to protect the environment . The Apex Court in Murli S. Deora v. Union of India clarified that the Fundament al right enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, inter alia provides that no one shall be deprived of his life without due process of law. Thus, a non-smoker is afflicted by various diseases including lung cancer or of heart disease only because he is required t o go to public places. It is indirectly depriving him of his life without any process of la w. Smo k ing is injur io us t o hea lt h and it e ve n a ffe ct s the hea lt h of passive smokers. The Court expressed the view that smoking pollutes the environment which affects the health of even non-smokers. Thus, smoking at public places like hospitals, libraries, auditoriums must be banned. Those decisions would show that the Courts in India, are very well aware of the importance of environment in human life. The Environment (Protection) Act ,
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1986 is based on the aim as to protection and

Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

improvement of natural enviro nment , therefore, any of its provision cannot be called unconstitut ional. In Sachidanand Pandey v. The State of West Bengal the Apex Court rightly observed that in India, as elsewhere in the world uncontrolled growth and the consequent environmental deterioration are fast

assuming menancing proportions and all Indian cities are afflicted with the environmental problems.

B.1 Directive Principles of State Policy

Although the control and prevention of Environmental pollution comes with in the purview of the concept of the improvements of the public health but the Parliament in its wisdom decided to add Article 48-A by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act. 1976. Section 10 of this provides: After Article 48 of the Constitution the following article shall be inserted, namely: Article 48-A. Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife. The state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and the wildlife of the country

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

CONCLUSION:
Development is defined as a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well being of the entire population in development and in the fair distribution of benefits therefrom. The Rio Conference of 1992 declared human beings as centres of concern for sustainable development . Human beings are, said,to be entitled to a healthy and protective life in harmony with nature. The Earth Summit held in Newyork attended by more than hundred nations where the commission recommended the introduction of Article 30-D which states:

Art . 30-D. Right to safe drinking water, prevention of pollution, conservation of ecology and sustainable development Every person shall have the right (a) To safe drinking water; (b) To an enviro nment that is not harmful to ones health or well-being; and (c) to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generat ions so as to(i) Prevent pollution and ecological degradat ion; (ii) promote conservat ion; and secure ecologically sustainable de velopment and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development. According to Article 48-A the State shall Endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Moreover Art. 51 -A(g) specifically deals with the fundamental duty with respect to environment. It provides "it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures. Basically the project deals with the effect of different conferences on environment held all over the world by different countries and changes in the Constitution of India due to them like the Introduction of new articles in the Constitution in Directive Principles of the State Policy and Fundamental Duties. One of the major steps in this regard was the introduction of Environmental Protection act,1986.

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Directive Principles of the State Policy and Environmental Analysis-A Constitutional Perspective

BIBLIOGRAPHY
S SHANTHAKUMARS,INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW(2nd ed. 2012) PROF. SATISH C. SHASTRI,ENVIRONMENTAL LAW(4th ed. 2012)

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