Final answer:
The courts in India have intervened to protect the environment in real-life cases such as the Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India and M.C. Mehta v. Union of India. In these cases, the courts directed industries to comply with environmental regulations and take measures to prevent pollution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Instance 1: One real-life case where the courts in India intervened to protect the environment was in the case of Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India in 1996. The case addressed the issue of pollution in the Vellore Industrial belt and the contamination of groundwater by tannery and other industries. The Supreme Court of India directed the industries to strictly comply with environmental regulations and implement measures to prevent pollution.
Instance 2: Another example is the case of M.C. Mehta v. Union of India in 2001. This case involved the pollution of the Yamuna River by industries in Delhi. The Supreme Court of India ordered the closure of polluting industries and the relocation of industries that could not comply with environmental regulations. The court also directed the government to take steps to clean up the river and prevent further pollution.