Anil Dev Singh, J.-This public interest litigation is concerned with maintenance and restoration of green belts in certain housing colonies of Jaipur. We have heard learned counsel for the respondents. It cannot be disputed that the parks and green belts in the cities are the green lungs and they need to be maintained. The health and welfare of the people must be kept in view by the State and civic authorities. In Samatha vs. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors. AIR 1997 SC 3297, it has been held by the Supreme Court that right to life, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution means something more than mere animal existence.

2. Article21 not only protects the life and liberty of the individual, but it also ensures a life which is worth living. It hardly needs to be emphasised that without good health, life is not worth living. In order to maintain physical and mental health of the citizens, protection, preservation and maintenance of environment and ecology is necessary. Parks and green belts create a healthy environment and promote well being of the citizens.

3. In Chhetriya Pardushan Mukti Sangharsh Samiti vs. State of U.P. & Ors. AIR 1990(4) SCC 449, it was held that every