Swaraj Abhiyan vs Union Of India And Ors

The Supreme Court, in a public interest litigation under Article 32, emphasized the duty of State Governments to acknowledge and declare drought-like situations to ensure assistance to vulnerable populations, as mandated by Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court criticized the inaction of Bihar and Haryana in recognizing such conditions, while Gujarat eventually admitted to a drought in five districts. The judgment underscores the need for proactive governance in disaster management and the responsibilities of both State and Union Governments in addressing humanitarian crises.