Environment and Ecology
In a 2025 landmark judgment, the Supreme Court extended the Public Trust Doctrine (PTD) to include artificial waterbodies, marking a significant shift in environmental law. The case revolved around Nagpur’s Futala Lake, which had suffered from pollution and encroachments. The Court held that the State’s responsibility as a trustee under the PTD applies not only to natural but also to man-made ecosystems that serve public and ecological purposes.
The doctrine, rooted in the Roman concept of res communes, recognizes that certain resources like air, water, and seashores belong to everyone and must be preserved for collective benefit. It treats the State as a guardian of these resources, preventing their misuse or privatization.
By extending this doctrine to artificial lakes, the Court reinforced the principle of environmental trusteeship, ensuring that all waterbodies—natural or artificial—are safeguarded for present and future generations in pursuit of ecological balance and public welfare
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