Published Paper Details:

Climate-related litigation has increasingly emerged as a powerful tool for advancing environmental accountability and influencing policy reform in India. This study traces the evolution of climate litigation within the Indian legal framework, charting its shift from traditional environmental public interest petitions to cases that directly address climate change concerns. It analyses key judicial pronouncements, including the landmark M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India, in which the Supreme Court recognised a constitutional right to be protected against the adverse effects of climate change, as well as the continuing proceedings in Ridhima Pandey v. Union of India, where governmental inaction on climate issues has been challenged. Through a detailed review of case law, statutory frameworks, and emerging judicial trends, the study demonstrates how Indian courts have progressively expanded constitutional protections to address climate-related harm, while remaining attentive to the country's developmental imperatives. It further considers the persistent challenges of implementation, the tension between economic growth and environmental preservation, and the likely trajectory of climate litigation in the world's largest democracy. Overall, the analysis underscores that judicial intervention particularly through public interest litigation has become a central avenue for pursuing climate justice in India, transforming abstract constitutional guarantees into enforceable environmental duties.