eCourtsIndia
IndiaCode Laws
Section6
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Rules to regulate environmental pollution

In force From 19 Nov 1986 Act 29 of 1986 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 29 of 1986 Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change Enacted 23 May 1986 In force 19 Nov 1986 Instruments 40

Section 6 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 deals with rules to regulate environmental pollution. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules in respect of all or any of the matters referred to in section 3. The Act came into force on 19 Nov 1986.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules in respect of all or any of the matters referred to in section 3.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:--

(a) the standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas and purposes;

(b) the maximum allowable limits of concentration of various environmental pollutants (including noise) for different areas;

(c) the procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous substances;

(d) the prohibition and restrictions on the handling of hazardous substances in different areas;

(e) the prohibition and restrictions on the location of industries and the carrying on of processes and operations in different areas;

(f) the procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which may cause environmental pollution and for providing for remedial measures for such accidents.

Section 6, The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (Act 29 of 1986).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

This section refers to

  1. s. 3 Power of Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environment

Related judgements & precedents

These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.

  1. Gulf Goans Hotels Co. Ltd. vs Union of India

    Supreme Court of India 22 Sep 2014 Binding (SC) Reportable

    Court's Decision & Legal Precedent

    Executive guidelines on environmental protection, even if based on international commitments and constitutional values, cannot be enforced as law against citizens unless they: (1) are properly authenticated under Article 77 of the Constitution (expressed in President's name and authenticated as prescribed by Rules); (2) are published in the official gazette; (3) contain clear, unambiguous, unequivocal mandate with prescriptive force; and (4) have statutory backing. Guidelines that remain mere suggestions or opinions in exploring correct parameters, lacking these essential elements of law, cannot bind citizens or justify enforcement actions like demolition orders. The doctrine of incorporation of international law into municipal law does not permit implementation of international commitments through unauthenticated executive guidelines when specific parameters are not internationally agreed upon. Statutory enactment through proper legislative process is required to give binding effect to environmental protection measures affecting property rights.

    On this section: Statutory parameters for environmental protection; Court emphasized parameters must be legislatively or statutorily determined

    Read the full order on eCourts India

The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.

Made under this section, and citing it

40 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 6

What have the courts held on Section 6 of the Environment (Protection) Act?

Gulf Goans Hotels Co. Ltd. vs Union of India (22 Sep 2014) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Statutory parameters for environmental protection; Court emphasized parameters must be legislatively or statutorily determined.

How do I find court cases under Section 6 of the Environment (Protection) Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Environment Act 6, section 6 Environment Act, section 6 of the Environment (Protection) Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Gulf Goans Hotels Co. Ltd. vs Union of India (22 Sep 2014).

What should I read with Section 6 of the Environment (Protection) Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 3 (Power of Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environment), so none of them can safely be read on its own. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 40: most recently Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (2026), then Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (2026), and 38 more.

When did Section 6 of the Environment (Protection) Act come into force?

Section 6 of the Environment (Protection) Act, cited as Environment Act 6, came into force on 19 Nov 1986, having been enacted on 23 May 1986. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.