Public Trust Doctrine Applies to Artificially Created Waterbodies Too: Supreme Court | Public Trust Doctrine Applies to Artificially Created Waterbodies Too: Supreme Court

Public Trust Doctrine Applies to Artificially Created Waterbodies

The Supreme Court held that the doctrine of public trust applies to artificially created waterbodies, in addition to natural ones.

A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, made this ruling on October 7, 2025.

The doctrine of public trust is not confined only to natural waterbodies such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands but also extends to man-made or artificially created waterbodies that serve ecological or environmental purposes.

The court noted that all artificial or man-made waterbodies created from natural resources and contributing to environmental balance fall within the ambit of the doctrine of public trust.

The case in question concerned Futala Lake, a man-made waterbody in Nagpur, which the court ruled does not fall within the statutory definition of a ‘wetland’.

Author's summary: Supreme Court expands public trust doctrine to man-made waterbodies.

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LawBeat LawBeat — 2025-10-15

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