In Bhopal Municipal Corporation v. Dr. Subhash C. Pandey & Ors., the Supreme Court of India issued nationwide directions to enforce the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, effective from April 1, 2026, while hearing an appeal against environmental compensation imposed by the National Green Tribunal. The Bench of Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice S. V. N. Bhatti highlighted widespread failures in waste segregation, processing, and management, relying on Central Pollution Control Board data showing large quantities of untreated municipal waste. Reaffirming that a clean environment forms part of Article 21, the Court directed elected representatives, State Governments, and District Collectors to ensure strict compliance. Mandatory four-category waste segregation, technological monitoring, penalties for bulk waste generators, infrastructure audits, school awareness programs, and mobile environmental courts were ordered. A multi-tier monitoring framework with accountability affidavits was introduced to ensure nationwide implementation and prevent environmental inequality caused by uncontrolled dumping.