
Unconscious evolution of Earth Jurisprudence: Analysing India’s disparate efforts at enforcing corporate accountability
Indian courts have begun incorporating elements of Earth Jurisprudence, such as granting legal personhood to natural entities and applying the “polluter pays” principle, to address environmental harms, though these developments remain inconsistent and fragmented. High-profile examples include the Uttarakhand High Court’s recognition of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers as legal persons, and the National Green Tribunal’s fines against polluting corporations like Volkswagen. While India still lacks a cohesive legal framework to enforce corporate accountability, these judicial actions signal a growing openness to Earth-centric legal thinking and suggest a foundation on which more robust environmental protections could emerge.