IN RE : T.N. GODAVARMAN THIRUMULPAD vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

The Supreme Court clarified that mining activities are prohibited within one kilometer from the boundary of Protected Areas, including Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ), as established in its previous judgment dated 26th April 2023. The Court emphasized that this prohibition applies uniformly across India, regardless of the ESZ's distance from the Protected Area. The Court held that any mining beyond this distance is permissible only with prior permission from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife, thereby reinforcing environmental protection measures.