Duty to protect the environment
Also called: Article 51A(g) · Topic: Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Rights in the Indian Constitution"
Meaning
Article 51A(g) is the fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. The 42nd Amendment, 1976, added it. The same amendment added Article 48A, which gives the State a matching task to protect the environment. So the job is shared by citizens and the State. Courts have also read the right to a clean environment into Article 21, the right to life.
Example
In Kureshi (2005), the Supreme Court used Article 51A(g), read with Article 48, to uphold Gujarat's total ban on cattle slaughter as a reasonable limit. In M.C. Mehta (1991), the Court ordered that environmental education be taught.
Don't confuse with
- Article 48A: this is a Directive Principle addressed to the State. Article 51A(g) is a duty of citizens. Courts cannot directly enforce either one.
Related concepts
- Fundamental duties
- Swaran Singh Committee
- Duty to abide by the Constitution
- Duty to defend the country
- Duty to promote harmony
- Scientific temper