- The Indian Forest Act, 1927
- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act ,1960
- The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977. Amendment Act, 1991. Amendment Act, 1995.
- The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
- The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
- The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995
- 1985 : Magsaysay award winner, M. C. Mehta, files a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking the shifting or closure of polluting industries operating illegally in Delhi. The Environment Protection Act, 1986, is yet to be enforced.
- 1987 : The Shriram Fertilizers gas leak case. A petition filed by Mr. M. C. Mchta in 1984 is heard by Mr. Justice P N. Bhagawati, who enforced the "Polluter pays" principle.
- 1988 :Mr Justice E. S. Venkataramaiah enforces the Water Pollution
Act, 1974, in the Ganga pollution (by tanneries) case filed by Mehta.
Another order bars the Delhi municipal agencies from dumping wastes in the Ganga-Yarnuna. - 1992 : The first order on polluting industries of Delhi. The apex court of the land orders closure of 300 stone-crushing units in Delhi (the capital of India) in response to a petition filed by Mehta.
- March 1995 : The Delhi government submits a list of hazardous units in the Capital to the Supreme Court.
- April 1996 : The Supreme Court orders closure of 513 polluting industries.
- July 1996 : An apex court bench comprising Mr Justice Kuldip Singh and Mr Justice Faizan Uddin orders relocation of 168 polluting units from Delhi.
- December 1996 : The apex court clarifies on the relief to workers of industries opting to close and refuses to extend the deadline.
