Environmental Victimology in Indian Jurisprudence

Abstract

In view of the varied kinds of emerging wrongs/crimes the legal injury suffered by an individual, community or non-human due to environmental crime is referred to as Environmental Victimology. This study aims to find out the development of environmental victimology in India, which means through this study the institutional response pertaining to protection of victims of environmental crime in India would be traced out. The present study is an attempt to find how has the Indian legislature and judiciary perceived a person or community who has suffered a legal injury due to environmental crime i.e. whether they are considered as victim as defined under sec. 2w(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 or a victim under specific environmental legislations or a person whose fundamental right has been infringed thereby providing a remedy under the Indian Constitution. Finding the answer to the above questions raised would help in in determining the scope of environmental victimology in India.