LANDMARK CASE
Orissa Mining Corporation v. Ministry of Environment and Forests (Niyamgiri)
(2013) 6 SCC 476 · Supreme Court of India · Environmental law
At a glance
- Citation: (2013) 6 SCC 476
- Court: Supreme Court of India
- Area of law: Environmental law
- In one line: Gram sabhas must decide on their religious and cultural rights under the Forest Rights Act.
1 Facts
Bauxite mining was proposed in the Niyamgiri hills, sacred to the Dongria Kondh.
2 Issue
Who decides whether the project affects forest dwellers' rights?
3 What the court decided
Gram sabhas must decide on their religious and cultural rights under the Forest Rights Act.
4 Why it matters
The gram sabhas later rejected mining. A landmark for tribal consent.
5 Think about it
Why give the decision to gram sabhas?
6 Analyse it yourself
Read the full judgment from an official source or a law database, then brief it in seven steps: facts, issues, arguments, decision, ratio, obiter and significance. Always check the citation before you rely on it.
7 More cases on Environmental law
- A.P. Pollution Control Board v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu (1999) 2 SCC 718
- Arjun Gopal v. Union of India (2017) 1 SCC 412
- Centre for Environmental Law, WWF India v. Union of India (Asiatic Lion) (2013) 8 SCC 234
- Hinch Lal Tiwari v. Kamala Devi (2001) 6 SCC 496
- Indian Council for Enviro Legal Action v. Union of India (1996) 3 SCC 212
- Lafarge Umiam Mining v. Union of India (2011) 7 SCC 338
All 366 landmark cases · Today's Case of the Day · Weekly quiz
← ONGC v. Saw PipesPakala Narayana Swami v. Emperor →
A short teaching summary for students. Educational content only, not legal advice.