Fri Dec 19 16:34:13 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewrite of the text as a news article:
Summary:
The Supreme Court of India has ruled that corporate social responsibility (CSR) inherently includes environmental responsibility, making it a constitutional obligation for corporations to protect the environment and endangered species. The ruling came in response to petitions regarding the near-extinct Great Indian Bustard. The court extended Article 51A(g) of the Constitution, which previously applied only to citizens, to include corporations as legal persons with a fundamental duty to protect the environment. Companies operating near the Great Indian Bustard’s habitat, particularly non-renewable power generators, are now obligated to direct CSR funds towards conservation efforts and act responsibly to minimize their environmental impact. The court also upheld recommendations from an expert committee regarding priority areas for conservation and long-term studies on the impact of climate change on the bird.
News Article:
Indian Supreme Court: Environmental Protection Now a Core Corporate Duty
NEW DELHI (Dec. 19, 2025) – In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has declared that environmental responsibility is an intrinsic part of corporate social responsibility (CSR), establishing a fundamental duty for corporations to protect the environment and endangered species.
The decision, handed down Friday, stems from petitions filed concerning the endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a critically threatened bird species found primarily in the arid regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar asserted that a corporation’s duty must extend beyond shareholder interests to encompass the protection of the entire ecosystem. “The corporate definition of ‘social responsibility’ must inherently include ‘environmental responsibility’,” the judgment stated.
The Court expanded the reach of Article 51A(g) of the Constitution, typically applied to individual citizens, to include corporations. This imposes a legal obligation on companies to “protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.”
“Companies cannot assert to be socially responsible while ignoring equal claims of the environment and other beings of the ecosystem. A corporation, as a legal person and a key organ of society, shares this fundamental duty,” Justice Narasimha, who authored the judgment, reasoned.
The ruling specifically addresses companies operating in the vicinity of the GIB’s habitat. It mandates that CSR funds be allocated to both “ex-situ” (conservation outside its natural habitat) and “in-situ” (conservation within its natural habitat) conservation efforts. The court further emphasized that companies, especially non-renewable power generators, must operate with the understanding that they are “guests in its abode” when conducting activities in the bird’s habitat.
The Court also endorsed recommendations from an expert committee, including revised priority areas for GIB conservation in Rajasthan and Gujarat, covering 14,013 sq. km and 740 sq km, respectively. The Court directed that these conservation measures be implemented immediately. Moreover, the court ordered long-term studies on the impact of climate change on the GIB and approved a power corridor near Desert National Park in Rajasthan, designed to minimize disturbance to the bird.
This ruling is expected to have a significant impact on how corporations in India approach environmental protection, moving it from a voluntary act to a legal requirement. It is a victory for environmental advocates and a crucial step toward safeguarding India’s biodiversity.
First Piper 