पर्यावरण संरक्षण अधिनियम 1986 मधील 'सार्वजनिक विश्वस्त/विश्वासाचा सिद्धांत' खालीलपैकी कोणत्या तत्वावर अवलंबून आहे ?

The correct answer is Option D (Resources like air, water and forests have great importance to the people which should not be permitted to use for Private ownership.).

Key Points:
• Doctrine of Public Trust in Environmental Jurisprudence:
• Core Concept: The Public Trust Doctrine asserts that certain natural and common resources—such as air, water, sea, and forests—are preserved for public use, and that the State acts as a trustee for these resources for the benefit of the general public.
• Judicial Application: Supreme Court landmark rulings (such as *M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath*) incorporated this doctrine into Indian environmental law, establishing that natural bounty is of vital importance to the public and should not be permitted to be converted into private ownership or commercialized exclusively.
• Therefore, Option 4 accurately captures the foundational principle of the Public Trust Doctrine.
• Key Takeaway: The Public Trust Doctrine dictates that vital natural resources like air, water, and forests belong to the public and cannot be subject to exclusive private ownership.