The Public Trust Doctrine is a legal principle establishing that certain resources—like air, water, and forests—are of such great importance to the people as a whole that it would be wholly unjustified to make them a subject of private ownership. The State is the trustee of these resources, and the general public is the beneficiary.
Legal Origin: While not explicitly defined in a specific section of an Act, it was integrated into Indian Law by the Supreme Court in the landmark case M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997).
Application: The Court held that the Government is under a legal duty to protect the natural resources. These resources cannot be converted into private ownership or used for commercial purposes if such use is detrimental to the environment.
Constitutional Nexus: It is linked to Article 21 (Right to Life) and Article 48A (Directive Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution of India.
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