Supreme Court Affirms Environmental Responsibility as Core to CSR

On 19^th December 2025, the Supreme Court, in a significant ruling, interpreted ‘corporate social responsibility’ (CSR) to inherently include environmental responsibility, holding that the legal person of a corporation has a fundamental duty to protect the environment as a key organ of society.

• The ruling was based on petitions highlighting the cause of the near-extinct Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a flagship species of the arid and semi-arid grasslands, primarily located in and around the Great Thar desert (Rajasthan).
• The SC also accepted several recommendations of an expert committee appointed by it in 2024 to find a “delicate balance” between practical and environmental ....