Preservation of vital life-sustaining ecological conditions is a matter that should be covered by Article 21, according to Justice Surya Kant.

In a significant move to address the growing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in Kerala, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) organised a conference in Thiruvananthapuram. Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant graced the occasion with his presence and address.

The event marked the formal launch of three initiatives by NALSA. The first initiative, the NALSA Scheme on Access to Justice for Victims of Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC), 2025, aims to provide free legal aid, awareness, and timely assistance to families affected by such conflicts.

Justice Surya Kant underscored the importance of this scheme, stating that many victims of human-wildlife conflict belong to marginalized communities who are often unaware of their legal rights and entitlements. He emphasized that human-wildlife conflict is a matter of justice and governance, not just an environmental issue.

The second initiative, NALSA SPRUHA (Supporting Potential and Resilience of the Unseen, Held-back and Affected) Scheme, 2025, is aimed at supporting dependents of incarcerated persons and victims of crime through legal aid, counselling, and reintegration.

Justice Surya Kant also spoke about the importance of ecological justice. He stated that Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, also extends to the preservation of ecological conditions essential for sustaining life. He further elaborated that ecological justice means balancing human rights with the need for conservation of ecology.

In securing the conditions necessary for wildlife to thrive, human communities' safety, stability, and well-being should also be ensured, he reiterated.

The Compendium on Human-Wildlife Conflict was another initiative launched at the conference. This compiles national and state-level policies, guidelines, and judicial pronouncements related to human-wildlife conflict.

Justice Surya Kant noted that the judiciary, particularly the Green Bench of the Supreme Court, has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the nation's developmental pursuits do not harm its flora and fauna. He emphasized that justice cannot be allowed to function selectively, neither in what it stands for nor in how it is applied.

He also emphasized the importance of legal aid reaching vulnerable communities living on the edges of forests, who are often the most affected by human-wildlife conflict.

The conference aimed to bring together stakeholders from various fields to discuss and find solutions to the challenges posed by human-wildlife conflict in Kerala. The initiatives launched by NALSA are expected to provide much-needed support to the affected communities and contribute to a more just and sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.