Access to Justice through Free Legal Aid: A Socio-Legal Analysis of Environmental Law in India

Abstract

              Access to justice though free legal aid and Environmental law in India is a topic that brings together the fields of law, human rights, and social justice. This article examines the role of legal aid in ensuring access to justice for environmental from a socio-legal perspective. It analyses constitutional mandates, statutory frameworks, and social realities affecting the delivery of legal aid, with particular reference to India. The article considers the common law for access to justice through the legal aid; the development of the Law Commission’s recommendations on free legal aid and constitutionally guaranteed under Articles 21 and 39-A of the Indian Constitution. Free legal aid (ultimately led to increased legal awareness, empowerment of vulnerable communities, and greater participation of citizens in the justice delivery system in India); and from the Environmental perspective legal aid also led to the strengthening of the rule of law and global recognition of access to justice as an essential component of human rights. Proposals from various International bodies which now argue for similar reform.Further, the there are numerous laws in India that deal with environmental protection, However, well implementation problems can be observed. The Constitutional mandate and other environmental regulations must be successfully and implemented. The judiciary plays a significant role and admirable contribution. Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) in the modern time must inevitably include green development as it provides the best means of addressing the dual issues of protecting the environment and boosting the economy. India has ratified several international environmental treaties and agreements, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. These international commitments have led to the integration of environmental principles, such as the precautionary principle, polluter pays principle, and sustainable development, into India's constitutional provisions. This study explores the implementation challenges of environmental laws and policies in India. It reveals the difficulties and problems associated with breaking environmental laws and regulations in India. This study's primary goal is to find obstacles in implementation of environment law in India and overcome in order to put environmental laws and policies into effect.