India's environmental policies are deeply rooted in constitutional directives, specifically Articles 48A and 51-A, and are supported by key legislations like the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. A distinctive feature of India's environmental governance is the highly proactive engagement of its Supreme Court, which since the late 1980s has directly interpreted and introduced significant changes in environmental jurisprudence. This judicial activism, often prompted by failures of government agencies and public interest complaints, has seen the Court lay down new principles, create institutions, and even issue detailed executive actions, earning it monikers like "Lords of Green Bench." While supporters hail the Supreme Court as a pioneering force for environmental justice and a symbol of hope, critics argue that its interventions, particularly through public interest litigation, frequently delay crucial infrastructure projects for years, inadvertently prolonging pollution and its severe human health impacts.