1. Conservation of critically endangered avian species — Conflict between overhead power transmission lines and renewable energy infrastructure — Writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. (Para 6 , 9 )
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2025 Supreme(SC) 2088
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
PAMIDIGHANTAM SRI NARASIMHA, ATUL S. CHANDURKAR, JJ.
M.K. Ranjitsinh & Others – Petitioners
Versus
Union of India & Others – Respondents
Writ Petition (C) No. 838 of 2019 With Civil Appeal No. 3570 of 2022 With Writ Petition (C) No. 549 of 2025.
Decided On : 19-12-2025
Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioner(s):Mr. Vikas Singh, Sr. Adv. Mr. Shri Venkatesh, Adv. Mr. Shryeshth Ramesh Sharma, Adv. Ms. Kanika Chugh, Adv. Ms. Priya Dhankhar, Adv. Mr. Suhael Buttan, Adv. Ms. Deepeika Kalia, Adv. Ms. Drishti Rathi, Adv. Mr. Nitin Saluja, AOR Mr. Abhishek Thakur, Adv. Mr. Sudeep Chandra, Adv. Ms. Vasudha Singh, Adv. Ms. Khushi, Adv. Mr. Shyam Divan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Prashanto Chandra Sen, Sr. Adv. Ms. Sonia Dube, Adv. Ms. Kanchan Yadav, Adv. Ms. Surbhi Anand, Adv. Ms. Anshula L Bakhru, Adv. Mr. Arpith Jacob Varaprasad, Adv. Ms. Saumya Sharma, Adv. Mr. Tanishq Sharma, Adv. Ms. Muskan Nagpal, Adv. Mr. Sayantan Chanda, Adv. M/s. Legal Options, AOR Petitioner-in-person
For the Respondent(s): Mr. R Venkataramani, Attorney General for India Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, A.S.G. Mr. Raj Bahadur Yadav, AOR Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Sr. Adv. Mr. Chinmayee Chandra, Adv. Mr. Chitvan Singhal, Adv. Mr. Raman Yadav, Adv. Mr. Kartikay Aggarwal, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Kumar Pandey, Adv. Mr. Mukesh Kumar Singh, Adv. Ms. Ameyvikrama Thanvi, Adv. Dr. Arun Kumar Yadav, Adv. Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, ASG Ms. Shivika Mehra, Adv. Mr. Anirudh Singh, Adv. Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR Mr. Sandeep Kumar Jha, AOR Mr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, A.A.G. Ms. Nidhi Jaswal, AOR Ms. Deepanwita Priyanka, AOR Mr. Deepak Singh, Adv. Mr. Guntur Pramod Kumar, AOR Ms. Prerna Singh, Adv. Mr. Keshav Singh, Adv. Mr. Milind Kumar, AOR Mr. Rahul Chitnis, Adv. Mr. Aaditya Aniruddha Pande, AOR Mr. Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Adv. Mr. Sourav Singh, Adv. Ms. Chitransha Singh Sikarwar, Adv. Mr. Shrirang B. Varma, Adv. Ms. Swati Ghildiyal , AOR Mr. Sarad Kumar Singhania, AOR Mr. Ramesh Thakur, Adv. Mr. Sanchit Garga, AOR Mr. Kunal Rana, Adv. Mr. Shashwat Jaiswal, Adv. Mr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Adv. Ms. Diksha Arora, Adv. Mr. Somesh Chandra Jha, AOR Ms. Saumya Dwivedi, Adv. Mr. Animesh Rajoriya, Adv. Mr. Tarun Bajaj, Adv. Mr. Anand Kumar Singh, Adv. Mr. Deependra Kumar Pathak, Adv. Ms. Jesal Wahi, Adv. Ms. Hemantika Wahi, AOR Dr. Manish Singhvi, Sr. Adv. Ms. Shalini Haldar, Adv. Mr. Rohit K. Singh, AOR Mr. Pritam Bishwas, Adv. Mr. Yashveer Singh, Adv. Mr. Shivansh Pundir, Adv. Mr. Kartikey Bansal, Adv. Mr. Ranji Thomas, Sr. Adv. Mr. V. N. Raghupathy, AOR Mr. A. Karthik, AOR M/S. Vkc Law Offices, AOR Ms. Arti Singh, AOR Mr. Aakashdeep Singh Roda, Adv. Ms. Pooja Singh, Adv. Mr. B P Singh, Adv. Mr. Devendra Singh, AOR Mr. Ankur Sood, AOR Ms. Romila Mandal, Adv. Mr. Prajwal Suman, Adv. Mr. Dhaman Trivedi, Adv. Mr. Vishrov Mukerjee, Adv. Mr. Pukhrambam Ramesh Kumar, AOR Mr. Janmali Manikala, Adv. Mr. Girik Bhalla, Adv. Mr. Damodar Solanki, Adv. Mr. Deepak Thakur, Adv. Mr. Karun Sharma, Adv. Ms. Anupama Ngangom, Adv. Ms. Rajkumari Divyasana, Adv. Mr. S. S. Shroff, AOR Mr. Mahesh Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Arshit Anand, Adv. Ms. Madhavi Agarwal, Adv. Ms. Kamakshi Sehgal, Adv. Mr. E. C. Agrawala, AOR Mr. Vikas Singh, Sr. Adv. Mr. Shri Venkatesh, Adv. Mr. Shryeshth Ramesh Sharma, Adv. Ms. Kanika Chugh, Adv. Ms. Priya Dhankhar, Adv. Ms. Deepeika Kalia, Adv. Ms. Drishti Rathi, Adv. Ms. Vasudha Singh, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Thakur, Adv. Mr. Nitin Saluja, AOR Mr. Sudeep Chandra, Adv. Ms. Khushi, Adv. Ms. Madhurima Tatia, AOR Mrs. Priya Puri, AOR
For the Petitioner(s):Mr. Vikas Singh, Sr. Adv. Mr. Shri Venkatesh, Adv. Mr. Shryeshth Ramesh Sharma, Adv. Ms. Kanika Chugh, Adv. Ms. Priya Dhankhar, Adv. Mr. Suhael Buttan, Adv. Ms. Deepeika Kalia, Adv. Ms. Drishti Rathi, Adv. Mr. Nitin Saluja, AOR Mr. Abhishek Thakur, Adv. Mr. Sudeep Chandra, Adv. Ms. Vasudha Singh, Adv. Ms. Khushi, Adv. Mr. Shyam Divan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Prashanto Chandra Sen, Sr. Adv. Ms. Sonia Dube, Adv. Ms. Kanchan Yadav, Adv. Ms. Surbhi Anand, Adv. Ms. Anshula L Bakhru, Adv. Mr. Arpith Jacob Varaprasad, Adv. Ms. Saumya Sharma, Adv. Mr. Tanishq Sharma, Adv. Ms. Muskan Nagpal, Adv. Mr. Sayantan Chanda, Adv. M/s. Legal Options, AOR Petitioner-in-person
For the Respondent(s): Mr. R Venkataramani, Attorney General for India Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, A.S.G. Mr. Raj Bahadur Yadav, AOR Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Sr. Adv. Mr. Chinmayee Chandra, Adv. Mr. Chitvan Singhal, Adv. Mr. Raman Yadav, Adv. Mr. Kartikay Aggarwal, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Kumar Pandey, Adv. Mr. Mukesh Kumar Singh, Adv. Ms. Ameyvikrama Thanvi, Adv. Dr. Arun Kumar Yadav, Adv. Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, ASG Ms. Shivika Mehra, Adv. Mr. Anirudh Singh, Adv. Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR Mr. Sandeep Kumar Jha, AOR Mr. Shiv Mangal Sharma, A.A.G. Ms. Nidhi Jaswal, AOR Ms. Deepanwita Priyanka, AOR Mr. Deepak Singh, Adv. Mr. Guntur Pramod Kumar, AOR Ms. Prerna Singh, Adv. Mr. Keshav Singh, Adv. Mr. Milind Kumar, AOR Mr. Rahul Chitnis, Adv. Mr. Aaditya Aniruddha Pande, AOR Mr. Siddharth Dharmadhikari, Adv. Mr. Sourav Singh, Adv. Ms. Chitransha Singh Sikarwar, Adv. Mr. Shrirang B. Varma, Adv. Ms. Swati Ghildiyal , AOR Mr. Sarad Kumar Singhania, AOR Mr. Ramesh Thakur, Adv. Mr. Sanchit Garga, AOR Mr. Kunal Rana, Adv. Mr. Shashwat Jaiswal, Adv. Mr. Bhanu Pratap Singh, Adv. Ms. Diksha Arora, Adv. Mr. Somesh Chandra Jha, AOR Ms. Saumya Dwivedi, Adv. Mr. Animesh Rajoriya, Adv. Mr. Tarun Bajaj, Adv. Mr. Anand Kumar Singh, Adv. Mr. Deependra Kumar Pathak, Adv. Ms. Jesal Wahi, Adv. Ms. Hemantika Wahi, AOR Dr. Manish Singhvi, Sr. Adv. Ms. Shalini Haldar, Adv. Mr. Rohit K. Singh, AOR Mr. Pritam Bishwas, Adv. Mr. Yashveer Singh, Adv. Mr. Shivansh Pundir, Adv. Mr. Kartikey Bansal, Adv. Mr. Ranji Thomas, Sr. Adv. Mr. V. N. Raghupathy, AOR Mr. A. Karthik, AOR M/S. Vkc Law Offices, AOR Ms. Arti Singh, AOR Mr. Aakashdeep Singh Roda, Adv. Ms. Pooja Singh, Adv. Mr. B P Singh, Adv. Mr. Devendra Singh, AOR Mr. Ankur Sood, AOR Ms. Romila Mandal, Adv. Mr. Prajwal Suman, Adv. Mr. Dhaman Trivedi, Adv. Mr. Vishrov Mukerjee, Adv. Mr. Pukhrambam Ramesh Kumar, AOR Mr. Janmali Manikala, Adv. Mr. Girik Bhalla, Adv. Mr. Damodar Solanki, Adv. Mr. Deepak Thakur, Adv. Mr. Karun Sharma, Adv. Ms. Anupama Ngangom, Adv. Ms. Rajkumari Divyasana, Adv. Mr. S. S. Shroff, AOR Mr. Mahesh Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Arshit Anand, Adv. Ms. Madhavi Agarwal, Adv. Ms. Kamakshi Sehgal, Adv. Mr. E. C. Agrawala, AOR Mr. Vikas Singh, Sr. Adv. Mr. Shri Venkatesh, Adv. Mr. Shryeshth Ramesh Sharma, Adv. Ms. Kanika Chugh, Adv. Ms. Priya Dhankhar, Adv. Ms. Deepeika Kalia, Adv. Ms. Drishti Rathi, Adv. Ms. Vasudha Singh, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Thakur, Adv. Mr. Nitin Saluja, AOR Mr. Sudeep Chandra, Adv. Ms. Khushi, Adv. Ms. Madhurima Tatia, AOR Mrs. Priya Puri, AOR
The court established the need for balancing conservation of critically endangered species with infrastructure development, mandating expert involvement in decision-making processes for sustainable environmental policies.
Headnote:(A) Constitution of India - Article 32 - Environmental Protection Law - Conservation of endangered species - This case concerns the endangered Great Indian Bustard and arose from writ petitions filed seeking immediate directions for conservation. The court issued guidelines to the government on habitat preservation and renewable energy projects' regulation. (Paras 9, 10, 11, 30, 35, 76).
(B) Environmental law - The court emphasized that conservation efforts must balance ecological protection with renewable energy development, acknowledging the Great Indian Bustard's cultural significance and critical endangerment. (Paras 3, 14, 15, 27).
(C) Writ jurisdiction - The court stressed the importance of expert recommendations in environmental matters and ordered an expert committee to propose conservation strategies. (Paras 15, 25, 30, 76).
(D)
Findings of Court:
The Expert Committee's recommendations led to modifying priority areas for conservation and enforcing measures to mitigate infrastructure impacts on the bustard's habitats. (Paras 11, 14, 15, 76). (E)
Issues: The main issues addressed were habitat conservation versus energy development, measures to mitigate human intervention, and the implementation of protective laws. (Paras 6, 14, 15, 76). (F)
Ratio Decidendi: The court maintained that conservation of the Great Indian Bustard is paramount, integrating scientific consultation in shaping regulations to safeguard the species while allowing for sustainable development. (Paras 35, 60, 76). (G)
Result: The court approved the Expert Committee's recommendations and directed immediate implementation of conservation measures. (Para 77).
Judgement Key Points
यह निर्णय पर्यावरण संरक्षण, वन्यजीव संरक्षण और स्थायी विकास के बीच संतुलन बनाने पर केंद्रित है। मुख्य मुद्दा भारत में प्रवासी और स्थायी रूप से संकटग्रस्त प्रजातियों जैसे महान भारतीय बस्टर्ड (गोडावण) की रक्षा है। कोर्ट ने यह माना कि इन प्रजातियों का संरक्षण अत्यंत आवश्यक है, क्योंकि इनकी संख्या तेजी से घट रही है और वे विलुप्ति के कगार पर हैं।
कोर्ट ने संरक्षण प्रयासों के लिए विशेषज्ञ समितियों की भूमिका पर बल दिया और इन समितियों से सुझाव लेने का निर्देश दिया। साथ ही, यह भी कहा कि संरक्षण के प्रयासों में पारदर्शिता और वैज्ञानिक आधार पर निर्णय लेना जरूरी है।
निर्णय में यह भी स्पष्ट किया गया है कि विकास और पर्यावरण संरक्षण दोनों को साथ-साथ चलाना चाहिए। इसके तहत, बिजली लाइनों जैसे अवरोधों को कम करने के लिए विशेष उपाय जैसे कि बिजली के तारों को भूमिगत करना, रूटिंग का पुनः निर्धारण, और पक्षियों के लिए विशेष उपकरणों का प्रयोग करने का सुझाव दिया गया है।
कोर्ट ने यह भी निर्देशित किया कि नए ऊर्जा प्रोजेक्ट्स, जैसे कि सौर और पवन ऊर्जा संयंत्र, निर्धारित क्षेत्रों में सीमित मात्रा में ही अनुमति दी जाए। इन क्षेत्रों में नए प्रोजेक्ट्स के लिए प्रतिबंध लगाने के साथ-साथ, मौजूदा लाइनों को भी सुरक्षित बनाने के उपाय किए जाएं।
इसके अतिरिक्त, कोर्ट ने यह भी कहा कि पर्यावरण और वन्यजीव संरक्षण का दायित्व केवल सरकार का ही नहीं, बल्कि कॉर्पोरेट्स का भी है। कॉर्पोरेट्स को अपनी गतिविधियों के दौरान पर्यावरण संरक्षण को प्राथमिकता देनी चाहिए और CSR (सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्व) के तहत पर्यावरण संरक्षण में योगदान देना चाहिए।
अंत में, कोर्ट ने यह भी निर्देश दिया कि संरक्षण के प्रयासों को प्रभावी ढंग से लागू करने के लिए विशेषज्ञ समितियों की रिपोर्टों का पालन किया जाए और इन प्रयासों को समयबद्ध तरीके से पूरा किया जाए। साथ ही, पारिस्थितिकी और जैव विविधता की रक्षा के लिए आवश्यक दिशा-निर्देशों का कड़ाई से पालन किया जाए।
Legal Category Hierarchy
- constitutional law
- environmental law
- corporate law
- energy law
- administrative law
Table of Contents
2. Renewable energy generators oppose expanded priority areas and blanket bans — Petitioners seek mandatory undergrounding, bird flight diverters, and prohibition of mining in priority zones. (Para 26 , 44 )
3. Balancing species conservation with climate change mitigation requires a holistic, expert-led approach — CSR funds must be used for environmental protection as a constitutional obligation. (Para 15 , 38 )
4. The Species Best Interest standard prioritizes endangered species survival over commercial interests — Corporate Social Responsibility inherently includes environmental responsibility under the Companies Act, 2013. (Para 38 , 39 )
5. Revised priority areas established — Restrictions on new overhead lines, wind turbines, and solar plants exceeding 2MW — Mandatory undergrounding and rerouting of specific power lines. (Para 76 )
6. Does Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) include environmental protection?
Yes. Under the Companies Act, 2013, and Article 51A(g) of the Constitution, CSR inherently includes environmental responsibility. Corporations, as organs of society, must protect the ecosystem, and allocating CSR funds for endangered species conservation is a fulfillment of a constitutional obligation. (Para 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 )
7. How should the conflict between endangered species conservation and renewable energy goals be resolved?
Through a holistic approach that does not sacrifice one goal for the other. The court relies on domain experts to balance the non-negotiable preservation of species with sustainable development and international climate commitments to avoid disastrous consequences for the environment. (Para 15 , 60 , 61 , 62 )
8. What is the Species Best Interest standard in environmental law?
The Species Best Interest standard prioritizes the survival of endangered species over commercial or industrial interests. Under the Polluter Pays principle, companies whose activities threaten endangered habitats must bear the cost of species recovery. (Para 39 )
9. Are Bird Flight Diverters (BFDs) mandated as a primary mitigation measure for the Great Indian Bustard?
No. Due to unproven efficacy in the Indian context and high maintenance costs, the court declined mandatory deployment, directing instead that scientific studies by the Wildlife Institute of India and another agency be completed before final recommendations. (Para 60 , 61 )
JUDGMENT :
| CONTENTS | |
| I. | Godawan, The Great Indian Bustard |
| II. | Endangerment of the Great Indian Bustard |
| III. | Writ Petition under Article 32 of the Constitution |
| IV. | Interim Order of this Court dated 19.04.2021 |
| V. | Interlocutory Application by Respondents |
| VI. | Order of this Court dated 21.03.2024 and formation of the Expert Committee |
| VII. | The Committee Reports |
| III. | Consideration of Objections to the Committee Reports by Renewable Energy Generators |
| IX. | CSR to include Corporate Environmental Responsibility |
| X. | Submissions by Petitioner with Objection to Committee’s recommendation |
| XI. | Objections/Additional measures suggested by Petitioners |
| XII. | Analysis |
| A. Re: Inclusion of 657 sq. kms to the Revised Priority Area in Rajasthan | |
| B. Re: Even with respect to Non-Priority Areas, all Future Lines should Run through Power Line Corridors | |
| C. Re: All Existing and Future Lines must be marked with Bird Flight Divertors (‘BFDs’) | |
| D. Re: Regarding no new overhead powerlines (except 11kV and below) in the revised priority areas and leases of existing wind turbines not to be renewed | |
| E. Re: Prohibition on limestone or other mines in the priority areas or revised priority areas | |
| F. Re: Conversion of existing and installation of new 11 kV and below Powerlines as Aerial Bunched Cables in Revised Priority Areas | |
| G. Re: Undergrounding of 250 Km of critical power lines identified by WII in Rajasthan in a time-bound manner | |
| H. Re: Mandatory Undergrounding or Time-Bound Rerouting of All Powerlines (400 kV and Below) | |
| I. Re: Mitigation of two lines of 400 kV from Bhachunda-Varsana of approx. 11.5 Kms | |
| XIII. | Directions |
1. Godawan, The Great Indian Bustard: We may not find more apt lines to describe the present state and nature of one of the most wonderful avian species of our ecosystem, the conservation of which this Court has grappled with in the recent past:
“Luckily for one giant bird, they have such eyes. For millions of years, way before primates evolved into humans, they used this lateral vision to thrive in desert lands. This is the Great Indian Bustard, the State bird of Rajasthan. It's over three foot tall and weighs forty pounds, about as big as a bird can be and still be able to take wing. A bird that big should be easy to find.
Then people came and built wind turbines, and cables between tall pylons to ferry to the city electricity garnered from desert winds.
Now the species is almost extinct.” 1[Martin Goodman, My Head for a Tree: The Extraordinary Story of the Bishnoi, the World’s First Eco- Warriors, pg. 95 (Profile Books, 2025).]
2. In Rajasthan, it is affectionately alluded by its cultural name as “Godawan”. It is inextricably connected to the culture and living of desert communities. The Godawan has been associated with the nobility of the Rajput kings and its majestic stature was likened to the qualities of a noble warrior, making it a subject of admiration in local art and literature. Its survival is a shared cultural responsibility, as the bird represents not just a species but the unique natural heritage and resilience of the arid landscapes. Traditional folklores have also revolved around formulaic folk motifs which usually rhyme like;
e#/kjk jks eksrh] Egkjks I;kjks xksMko.k(
/kheh&/kheh pky pkys] u[kjkyks xksMko.k(
/kksjk okyh /kjrh ekFks] ?kwes Egkjks xksMko.k(
lc iafN;k esa Åapks] I;kjks xksMko.k2[“The pearl of the desert land, my dear Godawan; It walks with a slow, graceful gait, my stylish Godawan; On the land of the sand dunes, my Godawan wanders tallest among all the birds, my beloved Godawan”; (Ghorad Kare Che Yaad – Great Indian Bustard Song)
3. Godawan holds deep cultural and historical significance for th
