Involvement of Public in Enforcing Environmental Law in India: A Synopsis

In the present era of rapid development in science and technology, upshot commercial and industrial growth, the repeated environment violation with scant regard to ecological balance. In the mounting environmental violations, the well-being of the people is at risk. The conservation, protection and improvement of the environment are the major universal issues. This paper focuses on how public participation is important for the improvement of Indian environmental law, what is the role of public towards the environment and what efforts are made at the international level to secure a right to participation in environmental decision making for an Individual. Public participation can be described as the real involvement of all social actors (Public) in social and political decision-making methods that potentially affect the environment in which they live and work. It is every citizen’s duty to understand the necessity of preserving purity of environment for the current and future generations. The paper mainly concerns with the constitutional and legislative measures available for the public to participate in Indian environment law and how the creative role of Indian judiciary has been significant and laudable. Public participation in environmental decision making is an interaction between the government and civil society, including processes of the government and civil society to open dialogue, establish partnerships and share information. The paper also describes the use of EIA (Environment Impact assessment) as a tool of Indian Environment law and importance of public involvement during it.