Justice Surya Kant: Right to Life under Article 21 Includes Ecological Protection

Supreme Court Judge Justice Surya Kant said Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and liberty, must also extend to protecting ecological conditions essential for survival.

Speaking at a NALSA–KELSA conference in Thiruvananthapuram on human–wildlife conflict, he stressed that justice cannot operate selectively and ecological justice requires balancing human rights with conservation.

Highlighting the plight of vulnerable forest communities, he urged better legal aid for victims of human–wildlife conflict.

The event also saw the launch of NALSA’s new schemes, including one dedicated to access to justice for conflict-affected families.