Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Parens Patriae
Constitutional & Public Law Doctrines
Definition
"Parent of the country." The inherent constitutional and sovereign prerogative of the State and the judiciary to act as guardian, protector, and trustee for legal persons under disability (minors, mentally incapacitated individuals, or ecological assets).
Example
In the Charan Lal Sahu (Bhopal Gas Leak) case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Act enabling the Union Government to represent all victims under the parens patriae doctrine to claim damages against Union Carbide.