Of Ebbs and Flows: Understanding the Legal Consequences of Granting Personhood to Natural Entities in India

Abstract A study of the rights regime for environmental protection in India indicates that such protections overlap with constitutional guaranteed primarily to citizens or persons under law. Contemporary jurisprudence has aggressively developed this intersectionality, declaring natural entities be living fundamental analogous those human beings. This article explores role played by two judgments delivered Uttarakhand High Court – Mohammed Salim v. State and Lalit Miglani establishment an effective framework protection. is effectuated both cases assigning legal personality rivers articulating a conceptual shift from human-centric approach. Accounting socio-cultural spiritual relationships have received protection, critically analyzes judgments, their rationale contributions As articulate paradigm effectiveness best assessed through analyzing frameworks created implementation. While pronouncement Indian courts on encouraging commitment, establishing nature was undertaken without due attention complexities characterize socio-politico-religious context consequences bestowing vaguely contoured upon entities.