Wildlife Habitat Destruction Will Attract Penalties: SC

New Delhi — The Supreme Court has warned that destruction of wildlife habitats will attract stringent penalties, emphasising that ecological preservation must be prioritised alongside development activities across the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India observed that despite existing environmental laws, the pace of habitat destruction — particularly in ecologically sensitive zones — continues to accelerate. The court called for stricter enforcement and higher accountability from state agencies.

"The right to a clean environment is a fundamental right under Article 21. The state cannot be a mere spectator while forests are felled and wetlands are filled in the name of development," the bench observed.

The court was hearing a petition filed by several environmental organisations highlighting the rampant encroachment on wildlife corridors and buffer zones around protected areas. The petitioners presented satellite imagery showing significant habitat loss over the past decade.

The bench directed all state governments to submit compliance reports on the implementation of existing wildlife protection laws within eight weeks. It also ordered the Ministry of Environment to set up an inter-state coordination mechanism for protecting migratory corridors.

"We need to move beyond paper protections. Unless there are real consequences for those who destroy habitats, our laws will remain ineffective," the bench stated.

Environmental experts have welcomed the court's intervention, noting that India has lost a significant portion of its forest cover and wildlife habitat to urbanisation, mining and agriculture in recent decades.