Environmental regulators obligated to prevent environmental harm

Environmental regulators are constitutionally obligated to prevent and mitigate environmental harm. In a landmark judgement in Indian environmental jurisprudence, the Supreme Court bench of Justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Manoj Misra expanded upon the scope of the power of Pollution Control Boards at the State and UT level. 

The matter in .P.C.C vs Lodhi Property Co. Ltd.Etc decided on 4 August 2025 was an appeal arising from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) alleging violations of Section 25 of the Water Act and Sections 21 and 22 of the Air Act by residential and commercial entities. The judgement harmonizes the Polluter Pays principle which was established in the Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India case, by asserting that remedial directions do not amount to punitive actions.

Regulators must be inspired from the obligation in Part IV A and Article 48 A. The State’s ‘endeavour to protect and improve the environment’ is a partial goal, if it does not ensure a duty to restore damages The Court recognized that amid climate change, the duty to protect water and air have attained the most significance of all obligations in Article 51A. Institutional transparency and accountability need to guide interpretation of Section 33A of the Water Act and 31A of the Air Act.

The Apex Court made a distinction in action for environmental damages for restitution or remediation and imposition of penalties or fines levied as a punitive action. By referring to the precedence in M.C. Mehta, the Court upheld that Indian law maintains a difference between actions for compensatory damages that are rooted in remedial action, and statutorily mandated punitive actions. 

The Court reiterated that Sections 33A and 31A empower regulators to issue directions including ex-ante remedial measures like compensation or bank guarantees. These powers are similar in nature to Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act and must be read in light of the Polluter Pays principle. Boards may adopt any appropriate measure against a polluting entity to minimize harm. This includes punitive proceedings under Chapters VII and VI of the Water and Air Acts respectively.  In doing so, they must exercise transparency, procedural fairness and have an intent to restore and remediate upon environmental loss.

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Internship at Lokayukta Uttar Pradesh – Apply for May 2025 Batch

The Internship at Lokayukta Uttar Pradesh offers law students an insightful experience into India’s public accountability mechanism. This internship is hosted by the Office of the Honorable Lokayukta, Uttar Pradesh, headquartered in Lucknow, and provides students with an opportunity to understand how complaints related to corruption, maladministration, and abuse of public office are addressed through quasi-judicial processes.

This structured program invites students to engage with real legal and administrative issues involving state public servants. If you’re interested in anti-corruption law, administrative justice, and public accountability, this internship is your gateway to hands-on learning.

About Lokayukta Uttar Pradesh

The institution of the Lokayukta is empowered to investigate complaints regarding corruption, misuse of power, and administrative irregularities committed by state public servants. It functions to redress two main categories of complaints:

  1. Grievance – A claim by an individual who has suffered injustice or hardship due to maladministration.
  2. Allegation – A charge against a public servant involving abuse of office, personal gain, corruption, or improper conduct.

Complaints under “grievance” must be filed within 12 months from the date the issue becomes known to the complainant. Allegations, on the other hand, can be filed within 5 years of the act complained of. The Lokayukta also has discretion to accept delayed complaints if valid reasons are given.

Eligibility and Scope for internship at Lokayukta Uttar Pradesh

Complaints can be made against:

  • Ministers (except the Chief Minister), MLAs, and MLCs
  • All officers or public servants of the state government, including All India Services officers
  • Officials of notified local bodies, cooperative societies, corporations, and government companies

However, complaints cannot be filed against judicial officers, members of the UPPSC, election commissioners, or secretariat staff of the state legislature.

This internship offers a chance to study how such complaints are handled, how investigations are conducted confidentially, and how institutional checks and balances work in practice.

Internship Duration

Interns can choose between:

  • 15 Days Internship
  • 30 Days Internship

The next batch commences from 16 May 2025, and students can opt for either the 15-day or 30-day period based on their availability and academic schedule.

Location

Office of the Honorable Lokayukta,
T.C 46/V-1, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar,
Lucknow – 226010, Uttar Pradesh

Application Requirements for Internship at Lokayukta Uttar Pradesh

Interested students are required to submit the following documents:

  1. Application addressed to “The Honorable Lokayukta, U.P., Lucknow”
  2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  3. Recommendation letter from the respective university or college
  4. Two recent passport-sized photographs
  5. Aadhar Card and College ID (photocopy)

The application should clearly mention the preferred duration and dates (e.g., from 16 May 2025 to 30 May 2025 or 16 May 2025 to 16 June 2025).

Sample Application Format

To  
The Honorable Lokayukta
Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow

Subject: Application for Internship at The Office of Honorable Lokayukta

Respected Honorable Lokayukta,

I am [Name], a [1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th year] B.A.LL.B/LL.B student from [University/College Name].
I wish to pursue a [15/30]-day internship at your esteemed office from [start date] to [end date].

Kindly accept my application.

Yours sincerely,
[Name and Signature]

Contact for Queries

For any clarifications, contact:
Mr. Atharv Raj Chauhan
Mobile: 7376602280

Why You Should Apply

This Internship at Lokayukta Uttar Pradesh is ideal for law students who:

  • Aspire to work in public administration or constitutional law
  • Are curious about anti-corruption mechanisms and legal ethics
  • Wish to experience public law in practice
  • Want to enhance their resume with credible government legal exposure

Apply now to secure your spot in the May 2025 batch and gain invaluable experience at the intersection of law and governance.


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