Scientific temper essential to protect environment, says former Supreme Court judge
Abhay S. Oka was delivering a lecture on ‘Environment- Rights or duties under the Constitution of India’ hosted by Rakesh Law Foundation
360° Perspective Analysis
Deep-dive into Geography, Polity, Economy, History, Environment & Social dimensions — AI-powered, on-demand
Context
Former Supreme Court judge Abhay S. Oka highlighted the critical need to cultivate a scientific temper among citizens to prevent environmental destruction often justified in the name of religious practices. He made these remarks during a lecture exploring the dynamic between environmental rights and fundamental duties under the Indian Constitution.
UPSC Perspectives
Polity
The Indian constitutional framework provides a delicate balance between citizens' rights and their obligations toward nature. of the Constitution guarantees the Right to Life, which the judiciary has expansively interpreted over decades to inherently include the right to a clean and healthy environment. Balancing this fundamental right are the Fundamental Duties enshrined in Part IVA. Specifically, explicitly mandates citizens to protect and improve the natural environment, while obligates the development of a scientific temper, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry. The former judge's remarks underscore that constitutional rights cannot be fully realized unless citizens actively fulfill these non-justiciable duties. For UPSC aspirants, this highlights a classic GS Paper 2 theme: evaluating how judicial activism has advanced environmental jurisprudence while the enforcement of citizen duties remains a complex challenge.
Environmental
India faces unique ecological challenges where deeply ingrained traditional and religious practices frequently clash with modern conservation needs. Activities such as plaster-of-Paris idol immersions in water bodies, the bursting of toxic firecrackers during festivals, and mass ritual bathing in rivers contribute heavily to severe localized pollution. Developing a scientific temper is crucial for society to critically evaluate and adapt these practices—using eco-friendly materials or alternative celebration methods—without losing cultural essence. Statutory regulatory bodies like the regularly issue guidelines to mitigate such pollution, but on-ground enforcement is notoriously difficult due to religious sensitivities. A scientific, rational approach is necessary to achieve sustainable development, ensuring that faith does not become a shield for ecological degradation. In GS Paper 3, this dynamic serves as a prime example of the socio-cultural hurdles in implementing effective environmental policies.
Ethics
The intersection of religious practices and environmental harm presents a profound dilemma within the realm of . The former judge's observation touches upon the tension between blind faith and rational inquiry, emphasizing that true civic virtue requires questioning dogmas that result in public or ecological harm. When religious sentiments are used as an alibi for destroying nature, it directly violates the moral principle of intergenerational equity—the ethical obligation to leave a habitable and healthy planet for future generations. Public administrators must navigate this highly sensitive terrain by relying on persuasion, emotional intelligence, and community leadership to induce behavioral change rather than relying solely on punitive measures. For GS Paper 4, candidates can utilize this scenario as a compelling case study to demonstrate how rational thinking (scientific temper) is a fundamental prerequisite for ethical environmental stewardship and responsible citizenship.