Natural resources like water, air, forests, and beaches are gifts from nature to humans. These resources are crucial and belong to the public, not private individuals. Governments act as trustees of these resources on behalf of citizens, a concept known as the Public Trust Doctrine. This doctrine originated in ancient Rome and emphasizes that certain resources are too important to be privately owned.
The Public Trust Doctrine serves as a system to ensure balanced management of natural resources. It obligates governments to manage resources effectively and allows citizens to challenge overexploitation.
In India, the doctrine has evolved through judicial interpretations rather than explicit constitutional provisions. Key cases like M.C. Mehta v. Kamalnath and others (1997), M.I. Builders Pvt. Ltd. v. Radhey Shyam Sahu (1999), and Shailesh R. Shah v. State of Gujarat (2002) have highlighted its application to protect public resources from misuse.
While not explicitly stated, the Indian Constitution implicitly supports the Public Trust Doctrine. Articles like 21, 39(b), and 47 underscore the state's duty to protect natural resources and the environment as essential to citizens' rights to life and a clean environment.
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