Great Bustard, an endangered species. File | Photo credit: Samad Kottur
Supreme Court judge Justice PS Narasimha on Tuesday (Nov 11, 2025) said many principles of environmental law imported from Western countries, such as “intergenerational justice”, are anthropocentric and would hardly help protect an endangered species from extinction.
Justice Narasimha made these oral observations while hearing a petition filed by MP Ranjitsingh for the protection of the dying captive species of Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioner, said there were 70 bustards in captivity and 150 in the wild. Little Florikans number 70.
“That’s it… Captive breeding can be successful with the bustard, but it doesn’t show success with the little florican. Extinction is not possible for these two species,” Mr Divan said.
“biblical roots”
Justice Narasimha said principles such as intergenerational inquiry had “biblical” roots, with people at the top.
The judge pointed out how 13 years ago, as amicus curiae in the conservation case, Red Sanders urged the Supreme Court to consider the “intrinsic value” of an endangered species rather than its “instrumental value to human beings.”
Justice Narasimha followed up on his arguments more than a decade ago as amicus curiae, criticizing principles such as intergenerational justice, which “presupposes the higher needs of human beings and stipulates that the use of natural resources must be equitably shared between present and future generations.”
Justice Narasimha said the court in its February 2012 judgment in the Red Sanders case had accepted his suggestions regarding the need to adopt an ecocentric approach in the Biodiversity Act.
“There are so many species on our planet that live for their own purpose; they have their own roles and bring balance,” echoed Justice Narasimha’s sentiments from his amicus curiae days, when he pointed out to the Supreme Court in the Red Sanders case that “our Constitution recognizes an ecocentric approach by obliging every citizen to have compassion for all living things.”
Published – 11 Nov 2025 22:03 IST
