Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Public Trust Doctrine in India?
1. The doctrine was first firmly established in Indian jurisprudence through the M.C. Mehta vs Kamal Nath case.
2. Following the Supreme Court judgment on Futala Lake, the doctrine now applies exclusively to naturally occurring water bodies and excludes man-made structures.

Question

Accepted Answer

A. 1 only — Statement 1 is correct as the Supreme Court adopted the Public Trust Doctrine in the M.C. Mehta vs Kamal Nath case (1997). Statement 2 is incorrect because the Futala Lake judgment explicitly extended the doctrine to include eco-friendly man-made structures and artificial water bodies.

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