CJI calls Supreme Court ‘banyan tree’ of environmental justice

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday described the Supreme Court as the "banyan tree" of environmental justice, saying courts must harmonise conservation with development and assess cumulative harm in climate disputes. Speaking at a National Green Tribunal conference in New Delhi, the CJI said environmental challenges transcend geographical boundaries and require coordinated global deliberation. Times Now reports the CJI cautioned against copy-paste decisions and noted the right to a healthy environment is part of the right to life under Article 21.

The Hindustan Times reports the CJI urged courts to look beyond isolated project impacts and examine the larger ecological system, as climate disputes will increasingly involve multiple actors and jurisdictions. The Times of India quotes the CJI saying progress without preservation is a mirage, and that the court recently articulated the idea of 'eco-centric proportionality'. On Sunday, Justice B V Nagarathna called for a shift from an anthropocentric to an ecocentric approach in environmental matters, according to Deccan Herald.