Ranchi: The National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi successfully organized the 4th Justice S. B. Sinha Memorial Lecture on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at its Plenary Hall, bringing together eminent members of the judiciary, academia, and legal fraternity for a thought-provoking discourse on contemporary environmental challenges.

The memorial lecture was delivered by Hon’ble Mrs. Justice B. V. Nagarathna, Judge, Supreme Court of India, on the theme “Environmental Justice and Climate Change: How Courts Can Lead the Way Forward.”

In her powerful and deeply insightful address, Justice Nagarathna highlight that environmental justice is not merely a policy concern but a constitutional imperative. She highlighted the evolving role of the judiciary in shaping environmental governance and underlined that courts must actively respond to ecological challenges through principled interpretation of the Constitution.

Drawing from constitutional provisions and landmark judgments, she explained how Indian environmental jurisprudence has developed through key principles such as sustainable development, precautionary principle, polluter pays principle, public trust doctrine, and intergenerational equity. 

She stressed that courts must go beyond traditional adjudication and adopt a forward-looking, precautionary and context-sensitive approach, especially in cases involving scientific uncertainty and irreversible environmental harm.

Justice Nagarathna further noted that environmental justice is closely linked with social equity and distributive fairness, as environmental harm disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized. She called for greater judicial leadership, transparency in governance, and meaningful public participation in environmental decision-making.

The programme was graced by Hon’ble Mr. Justice M. S. Sonak, Chief Justice, High Court of Jharkhand and Chancellor of NUSRL, as the Guest of Honour. In his address, he delivered a compelling message on environmental responsibility, stating that “while human laws may provide for appeals, the laws of nature do not provide the same."

He cautioned against ignoring the growing environmental crisis, pointing to glacial melting, rising sea levels, greenhouse gas emissions, and food insecurity as warning signs that humanity must not overlook. Emphasizing collective responsibility, he invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s words that “the Earth has enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed,” urging society to act with greater compassion towards both people and the planet.

Justice Sonak also highlighted the critical role of institutions like NUSRL in addressing environmental stability through research, education, and policy engagement.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. N. Prasad, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand, attended the event as the Special Guest, alongside judges of the High Court, faculty members, scholars, students, and distinguished invitees.

Welcoming the dignitaries, Prof. (Dr.) Ashok R. Patil, Vice-Chancellor, NUSRL, described the Justice S. B. Sinha Memorial Lecture as one of the most prestigious and cherished academic events of the University. He reflected on Justice Sinha’s remarkable contribution to Indian jurisprudence, particularly his intellectual rigor, independent thinking, and landmark judgments, which continue to inspire generations of legal scholars.

The lecture was organized in memory of Late Justice Satya Brata Sinha, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, whose distinguished career spanned several High Courts before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2002. Known for his scholarly depth and principled dissenting opinions, Justice Sinha made enduring contributions to constitutional law and judicial thought.

The programme commenced with a formal welcome and introduction, followed by the memorial lecture and addresses by the distinguished guests. It concluded with a vote of thanks. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, academicians, legal professionals, and members of the wider legal community, reaffirming NUSRL’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue on pressing legal and societal issues.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Inderjeet Sinha, Advocate, Jharkhand High Court, Ranchi, and son of Late Justice S. B. Sinha, who expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests, speakers, and participants for their presence and valuable contributions in making the event a success. Members of Justice S. B. Sinha’s family were also present on the occasion.

The event was graced by the esteemed presence of several distinguished members of the judiciary, including Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ananda Sen, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Roshan, Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary, Retd. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ambuj Nath, and Retd. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gautam Kumar Choudhary, along with other dignitaries from the legal fraternity.