The article presents an extensive inquiry into humanity’s evolving ethical, cultural and legal engagement with the natural environment, advancing the claim that large-scale ecological destruction must be conceptualised as a grave offence against human civilisation. Drawing upon ancient Indian intellectual traditions, including Vedic hymns, the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the study illustrates that nature was historically perceived not merely as a resource base but as a sacred, life-sustaining entity. These texts consistently conveyed an ecocentric worldview that regarded harm to forests, rivers, flora and fauna as an existential threat to human survival an understanding paralleled in Indigenous cosmologies such as those of Native American communities. Against this long-standing moral background, the article explores the contemporary juridical vocabulary through which environmental harm is understood. The Supreme Court of India’s use of the term matricide to describe destruction of ecological systems underscores the symbolic framing of Earth as a mother figure whose violation constitutes a moral transgression. The discussion then traces the emergence of ecocide as a proposed international crime, beginning with Arthur Galston’s formulation in 1970 and strengthened by later political and academic developments including the ENMOD Convention, Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, and the Rome Statute. The 2021 definition crafted by the Independent Expert Panel characterising ecocide as unlawful or wanton acts causing severe, widespread or long-term environmental damage marks a decisive step toward global criminalisation, a trend now reflected in several national jurisdictions and in recent observations of the Indian Supreme Court. The article further situates ecocriticism within this discourse by assessing how literary traditions, from Wordsworth, Keats and Eliot to Kalidasa, Tagore and contemporary Indian writers, have articulated humanity’s dependence on ecological stability. Their works collectively warn against excessive anthropogenic intrusion. Bringing these trajectories together, the article argues that recognising ecocide as a crime against humanity is both a legal necessity and a civilisational imperative.
Ironically, still many states in South Asia is still struggling to frame a separate legislation criminalizing or recognizing constitutionally the right against torture as subject matters of government despite of pleading a democratic culture. Nepal with immediate ratification of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966 without any reservation has given equal weightage and also pleaded for enacting a separate legislation in enforcing the primary aspirations relating to torture as expressed in the Covenant. The constitutionality of right against torture can be referenced in terms of fundamental rights with inviolable and non-derogable in nature. The government has also specifically enacted a legislation in line with confirming the broader aspects of expression of the UNCAT. The expression in law as well as in constitution has positively embarked to look into any matters as subject of violation which will be for surely under the jurisdiction of the right relating to torture and which has further warned the concern authorities to look into matters. This paper is written with two particular objectives, first what extent the right against torture is constitutionally protected, recognized and enforced along with testing the linguistic expression on such provision and second how the constitutional provision does has been enforced and judicial trends on reading the essence of right against torture in Nepal.
The right to clean and healthy environment is a universally recognized right, yet, at the international level, it lacks a concrete framework both in terms of substantive matters as well as enforcement. This article is a descriptive analysis of the judicial role in the context of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal in protecting and ensuring the right to a clean and healthy environment. In India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the cases relating to environmental degradation are brought before the Court both as a matter of Tort as well as Public Interest Litigation, whereas in Nepal, due to the absence of a law of tort, the cases are brought before the court in the form of Public Interest Litigation only. The judiciaries of SAARC countries have been playing a very significant role in recognizing the right to a clean and healthy environment and as ‘sine quo non’ to ensure other rights like the right to life and the right to health. With the recognition of various principles such as sustainable development, the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle and many more, SAARC judiciaries have constantly been broadening the scope of environmental protection and sustainable development in their respective countries.
Electronic and electrical equipment have made human life easy, adventurous and pleasurable. However, these equipment have silently led to the generation of a challenge of e-waste, i.e. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipments (WEEE). E-waste is defined as ‘electronic or electrical equipment, instrument, machine, gadget, etc., that has lost its value and has become dead/waste/obsolete.’ WEEE have a diverse composition, including heavy metals, plastics, glass and other chemicals, which have the potential for environmental degradation and severe impacts on human health. Therefore, proper disposal of e-waste, awareness of communities and strict implementation of laws has become inevitable. The present review summarizes all the perspectives on e-waste, the associated hazards and health consequences, its management, disposal, actions and enforcement.
The human urge to work is manifold expanded if the work is complimented or rewarded and be given incentive for the same. The human mind is working on the principle of internal and external rewards. The intellectual property right is also based on the theory of incentives. Everything created with labor of human mind is rewarded by providing protection through intellectual property. The technological age has accelerated the growth of startups. The startups in India are in the nascent stage and hence the role of intellectual property becomes very important. Intellectual property plays key role in innovation and research. It provides incentive and impetus for innovation. India has created a surge in entrepreneurial activities, innovation and investment. The government has created an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. To attract young talent towards made in India and Skill India, the government has come up with startup Action Plan. The main objective this action plan is nurturing, handholding and mentoring. The startup culture in India has also accelerated and created employment opportunities. In this article an attempt shall be made to trace the challenges faced by legal startups and reflecting the role of IPR in harmonizing the obstacles and providing environment for the growth of startups in India.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) affects over 13.3 million individuals globally each year, with significant morbidity and mortality due to delayed diagnosis and intervention. Current diagnostic methods, such as serum creatinine and urine output, serve as late indicators of kidney damage, underscoring the urgent need for novel, sensitive biomarkers. This review examines emerging biomarkers for early AKI detection, including Cystatin C, Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL), and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1). Cystatin C provides a reliable alternative to creatinine, with minimal susceptibility to non-renal factors. NGAL, rapidly released after kidney injury, demonstrates high sensitivity for early AKI detection. KIM-1, significantly overexpressed in response to ischemic and toxic kidney damage, offers insights into injury severity and prognosis. Integrating these biomarkers into diagnostic panels holds promise for enhancing sensitivity and specificity across diverse clinical settings. This review highlights the clinical potential of these biomarkers to revolutionize AKI diagnosis, enabling timely therapeutic interventions and improving patient outcomes. Future research should prioritize biomarker combinations and their incorporation into clinical workflows through advanced high-throughput technologies.
The research has highlighted the significant role that global law enforcement agencies, including Interpol, Europol, and national agencies, play in combating human trafficking. It has also underscored the need for international cooperation, effective legal frameworks, and innovative technologies in addressing the transnational nature of trafficking. Through case studies such as Operation Cross Country and Operation Archimedes, the study has demonstrated that multijurisdictional collaboration and the use of data analytics and AI tools are crucial in dismantling trafficking networks. Moreover, the study has shown that challenges such as jurisdictional issues, corruption, and victim protection hinder the full effectiveness of these efforts. While international treaties like the UN Protocol and the EU Directive on Trafficking provide solid frameworks for action, gaps remain in enforcement and victim support.
Rajasthan has been a significant player in India’s tourism industry, contributing 15% to the state’s GDP and providing employment to around 10 million people. Despite this, the potential of agri-tourism, which is closely linked to rural tourism, remains largely untapped. Agri-tourism involves activities that draw visitors to farms, allowing them to participate in farm operations and appreciate food production. It is growing at a 20% annual rate and aligns with the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by promoting sustainable practices and rural livelihoods. Rajasthan, with its diverse climates, rich cultural heritage, and significant agricultural output, has great potential for agri-tourism. Despite this potential, agri-tourism in Rajasthan faces several challenges. The primary issues include a lack of awareness about agri-tourism, limited government support, and insufficient manpower to undertake such activities. To improve agri-tourism, several recommendations have been suggested, including developing rural infrastructure, promoting agri-tourism through mass media, providing training and capacity building, and forming strong alliances between various stakeholders.
