M.C. Mehta v. Union of India
Background
This is the original 1984 writ petition filed by environmental activist M.C. Mehta over the yellowing and blackening of the Taj Mahal's marble, caused by air pollution from foundries, chemical industries, brick kilns, vehicles, and the Mathura Refinery around Agra. Over 42 years, the case grew far beyond its original scope into a continuing supervisory jurisdiction over the entire Taj Trapezium Zone, accumulating more than 150 pending interlocutory applications on issues ranging from industrial regulation to tree-felling permissions. The sheer volume of unrelated applications piled onto one decades-old petition had made the case procedurally unmanageable.
Decision Breakdown
The Court formally disposed of the 1984 writ petition, accepting the recommendation of the Amicus Curiae, Ms. Liz Matthew, Senior Advocate, that its ongoing concerns be redistributed rather than closed outright. In its place, the Registry was directed to register four new Suo Moto Writ Petitions covering: a Vision Document for the Taj Trapezium Zone, protection of trees/green cover, regulation of industries, and management of water bodies/sewage. The Court declined to transfer the matter to jurisdictional High Courts because the Zone spans multiple states and High Courts would find it procedurally difficult to modify the Supreme Court's own prior orders. Detailed directions were issued for sorting the pending IAs into "infructuous," "disputed," or "requiring further consideration" categories, with fresh guidelines laid down for future tree-cutting/relocation petitions in the Zone. The Court clarified that closing the original petition does not erase the binding force of the directions already issued over the decades.
Lesson Learnt
Even a landmark public-interest case can outgrow its original procedural form; courts can restructure decades-long "continuing mandamus" litigation into more focused proceedings without diluting the substantive protections already secured, ensuring long-running environmental oversight remains administratively workable.