Justice Nambiar Advocates Eco-Centric Approach to Wildlife Protection Laws

Rapid Summary

• Kerala high court judge Justice Jayasankaran Nambiar emphasized the anthropocentric nature of current laws protecting animals and wildlife, advocating for an eco-centric reinterpretation.
• Speaking at the NilgiriScapes Conference in Udhagamandalam during a panel discussion on environmental policy, he highlighted the challenges in interpreting laws due to differing life experiences of judges.
• Justice Nambiar cited that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960) has remained untouched by amendments since its inception, unlike the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), which was recently updated to include more species under protection.
• The Biodiversity Act (2002) was recognized as India’s first truly eco-centric legislation.
• He remarked on philosophical conflicts between anthropocentrism and eco-centrism within environmental legislation and called for reimagining laws uniformly from an eco-centric perspective.
• Referencing Argentinian philosopher Maria Cristina Lugones’ concept of “world travelling,” he argued for better understanding and respect towards other species to address human-animal conflict effectively.

Indian Opinion analysis

Justice Nambiar’s observations point toward a critical reevaluation of India’s approach to conservation laws amidst ongoing debates surrounding human-animal coexistence. His proposal for shifting from anthropocentric frameworks toward eco-centric principles holds relevance as India grapples with increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict. However, such a transformation requires legislative amendments coordinated across sectors. The coexistence beliefs referenced by Lugones underscores how societal attitudes may shape effective implementation. If embraced widely within policymaking circles,it could pave greater harmony between biodiversity preservation goals and development imperatives.

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