Many of the most important environmental cases in India were started by ordinary people: residents tired of a smoking chimney, villagers whose well turned black, a group that wanted its lake back. We help communities take these concerns forward in a way that the authorities and tribunals take seriously.
We act for RWAs, village groups, farmers, fishers and NGOs. We help them gather evidence, use RTI, take part in public hearings on new projects, and file cases in the NGT or High Court when needed.
हिंदी में सारांश
भारत के कई बड़े पर्यावरण मामले आम लोगों ने शुरू किए। RWA, गाँव, किसान और NGO NGT में आवेदन कर सकते हैं, नई परियोजनाओं की जनसुनवाई में आपत्ति दर्ज कर सकते हैं और RTI से जानकारी ले सकते हैं। हम सबूत इकट्ठा करने और मामला सही ढंग से आगे बढ़ाने में मदद करते हैं।
Is this your situation?
- A factory, landfill or STP is polluting your area
- A new project is planned near you and a public hearing is coming up
- A lake, park or green area is being taken over
- Trees are being cut for a project without proper permission
- Your NGO wants to bring a case on a wider environmental issue
- Your RWA has a dispute with the builder about environmental facilities
How we help
Organising the case
Who should file, how to record decisions, and how to share costs.
Evidence
Photographs, test reports, RTI replies and official records.
Public hearings
Written objections and representation at EIA public hearings.
Complaints
Effective complaints to the board and other authorities.
Litigation
NGT applications and appeals, High Court petitions.
Follow-up
Making sure orders are complied with.
Taking part in a public hearing
Many projects that need environmental clearance must hold a public hearing near the site, with notice published in advance. Anyone likely to be affected can attend and speak, and written objections can be sent too. The minutes and objections go to the authority that decides the clearance. A focused objection, backed by facts about the area, is far more useful than general opposition.
What makes a community case work
Clear facts, good records and a realistic goal. Decide early what you want: an inspection, a stop to the discharge, restoration, compensation or the cancellation of a clearance. Keep a log of incidents with dates and photographs. Use RTI to find out what the authorities know. And keep the group together: a case filed by an RWA or a registered society is easier to manage than one filed by many individuals.
| Goal | Usual route |
|---|---|
| Stop ongoing pollution | Complaint, then NGT application under Section 14 |
| Challenge a clearance | NGT appeal under Section 16, within 30 days |
| Compensation for loss | NGT claim under Section 15, within 5 years |
| Protect public land or trees | High Court petition or NGT, depending on the law |
| Get information | RTI application |
How a community case usually runs
First meeting
We understand the problem and the goal.
Evidence plan
What to collect and how, including RTI.
Regulator
Complaint or objection to the right authority.
Litigation
NGT or High Court if the regulator fails.
Compliance
Monitoring that the order is followed.
How we work
We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad), working on environmental matters across India.
- Deadline first: we tell you the time limit before anything else.
- Regulator and tribunal: we handle the board stage and the NGT, so nothing is lost between them.
- Plain advice: what we think will happen, including when a case is not worth filing.
- Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.
Related services
Pollution complaints · Filing in the NGT · Environmental cases in the High Court · Compensation for damage · Builder violations
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an RWA need to be registered to file in the NGT?
Not necessarily, as any person can apply, but a registered body with a resolution authorising the case is easier to manage.
How much does a community case cost?
It depends on the forum and complexity. We quote in writing by stage, and costs can be shared among members.
Can we lose money if the case fails?
The NGT can award costs, though it rarely does against genuine public-interest applicants. False or frivolous cases can attract costs.
Can an NGO file on behalf of a village?
Yes, NGOs regularly bring environmental cases, ideally with the involvement of the affected people.
What if the authority does not answer our RTI?
You can file a first appeal within 30 days, and a second appeal to the Information Commission.
Is a public interest case in the High Court better than the NGT?
For matters under the NGT laws, the NGT is usually the right forum. The High Court suits issues outside those laws or involving wider constitutional questions.
Community facing an environmental problem?
Tell us what is happening. We will help you decide the best first step.
This page gives general information about environmental law as it stood when it was last reviewed. It is not legal advice on your case and does not promise any result. Laws, rules and time limits change, so check the current position for your matter before acting.
Need help with Environmental Cases for Communities, RWAs and NGOs?
Send us the notice, the order or a few photos. We'll tell you where you stand, which authority or NGT bench deals with it and when the next step is due, in plain words.
