WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IN INDIA: A LEGAL TOOL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AUTHOR – CHANDRANI CHAKRABORTY, STUDENT AT DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL STUDIES, MOTHERHOOD UNIVERSITY, ROORKEE, UTTRAKHAND

BEST CITATION – CHANDRANI CHAKRABORTY, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IN INDIA: A LEGAL TOOL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (6) OF 2025, PG. 710-719, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344

Abstract

India, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, faces critical challenges in conserving its wildlife amidst rapid urbanization, habitat destruction, and human-animal conflicts. Despite the existence of a comprehensive statutory framework, implementation gaps and administrative apathy often hinder effective conservation. Public Interest Litigation (PIL), a unique facet of Indian constitutional jurisprudence, has emerged as a proactive legal mechanism for addressing environmental degradation and safeguarding wildlife. This paper examines the intersection of wildlife conservation and PIL in India, analyzing the statutory frameworks, judicial interventions, landmark cases, and the broader implications of using PIL as an instrument for ecological justice.