Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Polluter Pays Principle
Constitutional & Public Law Doctrines
Definition
An environmental law doctrine incorporated into Article 21 (Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum v. UOI), establishing that the absolute financial liability for repairing environmental damage and compensating affected victims rests squarely on the entity causing the ecological pollution.
Example
A chemical tannery discharges untreated toxic chromium sludge into groundwater; the National Green Tribunal assesses environmental damages of ₹100 crore against the tannery owners to remediate the contaminated aquifer.