GULF GOANS HOTELS CO. LTD. vs UNION OF INDIA .

The Supreme Court examined the legality of constructions by Gulf Goans Hotels Co. Ltd. in relation to environmental guidelines under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The Court held that while the constructions were not illegal at the time of sanction, they violated the CRZ guidelines prohibiting constructions within 500 meters of the High Tide Line (HTL). The Court upheld the Bombay High Court's orders for demolition, emphasizing that the guidelines, although not statutory law, are enforceable to protect the environment.