The judiciary has played a predominant role in ensuring that environmental practices are not just restricted to the law in paper, and have enforced and declared some major decisions that have come a long way in saving the environment. Though there are allegations that despite landmark judicial pronouncements, the executive and lack of will to save the environment has dampened the spirits of the judicial activism, it must be acknowledged that they have also been phenomenal in changing the course of environment destruction. The establishment of National Green Tribunals in 2010, and their active take on environmental issues have also added to such judicial gusto. The landmark cases have been categorised and listed as such:

 A.Mining and Quarrying

1. Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, Dehradun v State of UP AIR 1987 SC 2187
2. T.N Godavarman Thirumulpad v Union of India 2006 (14) SCALE 87

B.Public liability

1. Mr. M.C Mehta & Anr. Etc v. Union of India & Ors. Etc 1986 SCR (1) 312

C.Public nuisance

1. Municipal Council, Ratlam v Vardhichand AIR 1980 SC 1622.

D.Water Pollution:

1. A.P Pollution Control Board v Prof. M.V Nayudu (Retd.) and Ors (2000) Supp 5 SCR 249
2. Indian Council for Envirolegal Action v Union of India AIR 1999 SC 1502
3. Vineet Kumar Mathur v Union of India (1996) 1 SCC 119

E.Sustainable Development :

1. Narmada Bachao Andolan v Union of India 2000 (10) SCC 664.

F.Constitutional Interpretation of Environment

1. Sachidanand Pandey v State of West Bengal AIR 1987 SC 1109
2. Damodar Rao v. S.O Municipal Corporation AIR 1987 AP 171

G.Forest Conservation

1. Ambica Quarry Works v State of Gujarat and others 1987 AIR 1073

H.Wildlife protection

1. State of Bihar v Murad Ali Khan AIR 1989 SC 1

I.Coastal Zone Regulation

1. Maria Filomena Furtado & Others v Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority & Others Appeal No. 33 of 2014 (NGT – Western Zone Bench)
2. Wilfred J.Anr v MoEF & Others Appeal No. 14 of 2014 (NGT – Principal Bench)

J.Environmental Impact Assessment

1. Sunil Kumar Chugh v Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi Appeal No.66 of 2014
2. Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd. V. Union of India 2013 SCW 3231
3. Samata and Forum of Sustainable Development v Union of India & Others (1981] 2 SCR 1

K.Public hearing/Consultation

1. Adivasi Majdoor Kisan Ekta Sangathan and Another v. Ministry of Environment and Forest and Others NEAA No. 26 of 2009 Appeal no.3/2011 (T)

L.Hazardous Waste Material

1. Research Foundation For Science v Union of India and Others (2012) 7 SCC 764

M.Air Pollution

1. MC Mehta v. Union of India (Taj Trapezium Case) AIR 1987 Kant 82
2. MC Mehta v Union of India (2002) 2 SCC 356 ( CNG case)

N.Animal Welfare

1. Animal Welfare Board of India v A.Nagaraja & Ors (2014) 7 SCC 547