MOHD. SALIM V. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS

The Uttarakhand High Court declared the Ganges and Yamuna rivers as living entities with legal rights, appointing state officials as guardians. However, the Supreme Court of India stayed this order, citing impracticality and jurisdictional overreach.

• In March 2017, the High Court of Uttarakhand declared the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, including their tributaries, to be legal and living entities possessing all corresponding rights, duties, and liabilities. This decision was based on jurisprudence that recognizes Hindu deities and idols as juridical persons.
• The High Court appointed the Advocate General of the State of Uttarakhand, the Chief Secretary of the State of Uttarakhand, and the Director of Namami Gange as the legal guardians responsible for the protection, conservation, and preservation of the rivers.
• The Supreme Court of India stayed the High Court's order, ruling it legally unsustainable due to impracticality. Specifically, the Supreme Court noted the judgment failed to address who would be responsible for compensation claims resulting from flooding and interfered with the rights of other provinces through which the rivers flow.
• Critics and the Supreme Court highlighted several flaws in the ruling, including the fact that the petitioner, Mohd. Salim, had only requested the removal of encroachments rather than the granting of rights. Additionally, critics questioned the appointment of state officials as guardians given the failure of previous government conservation efforts and the lack of practical guidance on halting illegal sewage and industrial waste discharge.

APA

Natural Justice (2019). MOHD. SALIM V. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Environmental-Court-Case-Series_Ganges-Case-Summary_Natural-Justice-2020.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. MOHD. SALIM V. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS. 2019. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Environmental-Court-Case-Series_Ganges-Case-Summary_Natural-Justice-2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=MOHD. SALIM V. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS |date=December 2019 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Environmental-Court-Case-Series_Ganges-Case-Summary_Natural-Justice-2020.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2019mohd, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{MOHD. SALIM V. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2019}, month = dec, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Environmental-Court-Case-Series_Ganges-Case-Summary_Natural-Justice-2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }