Vidushi Gaur/ New Delhi

On a winter morning in Delhi, when the Air Quality Index is ‘severe plus’ and the haze visibility is poor, a young lawyer stands outside a courthouse, files in hand and purpose in her stride.

Ekta Pareek, who hails from Bikaner, Rajasthan, believes that environmental law and animal rights are not abstract legal domains; they are urgent, lived realities. Her work sits at the intersection of law, ethics, and duty, driven by a belief that justice must extend beyond human boundaries. She is one of the few lawyers who picks up legal cases pertaining to enviromental degradation and animal rights.

Advocate Ekta Pareek

Recently, Ekta met residents living beside a large drain emitting a toxic stench, with reports confirming harmful gases. Despite approaching authorities like the Delhi Jal Board, DDA and MCD, they faced repeated inaction. “They were worried for their families’ health,” she says, adding that it exposed how little quality of life is prioritised on the ground, despite court directions.

She is helping them seek legal remedies, while hoping that a  clean environment and animal protection become central to public concern.

Ekta, 28,  graduated from law school and enrolled with the Bar soon after, stepping into the profession with clarity about the causes she wanted to champion. From the outset, she was drawn to environmental litigation and animal welfare cases, areas she felt were deeply neglected despite their profound impact on life and society.

For Ekta, the real issue lies not in the absence of laws, but in their implementation. Judicial bodies such as the National Green Tribunal and regulatory agencies like the Central Pollution Control Board have existed for decades, yet cities like Delhi continue to choke on hazardous air.

Advocate Ekta Pareek

She points to a systemic failure where directives are issued but rarely enforced on the ground. Illegal constructions continue to encroach upon fragile ecosystems like the Aravalli forests, and unregulated borewells deplete groundwater reserves.

The “polluter pays” principle, she notes, has been diluted into a mere cost of doing business. “For many industries, paying fines is cheaper than adopting sustainable practices,” she says. “It becomes a license to pollute rather than a deterrent.”

Ekta’s concerns extend equally to animal rights, an area she describes as criminally under-prioritised. Despite the existence of laws like the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and provisions under wildlife protection legislation, enforcement remains weak. “In many cases, perpetrators walk away by paying a fine as low as ₹50,” she says. “That’s less than the price of a cup of coffee.”

Advocate Ekta Pareek

She recalls the controversy surrounding the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, when inadequate infrastructure led to chaos in managing stray animal populations. “The system failed both animals and citizens,” she says.

 “Confusion, displacement, and unnecessary suffering happened.” While the introduction of stricter provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 325 that treats the killing of animals as a serious offence, is a step forward, Ekta believes significant gaps remain.

Crimes such as starvation, confinement, irresponsible breeding, and bestiality are still inadequately addressed.

Advocate Ekta Pareek

Her commitment to these issues is not limited to courtroom arguments. Ekta actively provides pro bono legal aid to individuals and groups fighting for environmental and animal rights. She has raised her voice against illegal borewells in Delhi and the mass cutting of Khejri trees in Rajasthan.

During a crackdown on stray animals, she worked to hold authorities accountable to the ABC Rules, ensuring that legal protocols were followed.

“I don’t see this as charity,” she says. “It’s my fundamental duty under Article 51A(g) of our Constitution to protect and improve the natural environment and have compassion for living creatures.”

Ekta also advocates for stronger legal reforms. While the BNS has increased penalties, she argues that deterrence is still lacking.

Advocate Ekta Pareek

She calls for clearer and stricter provisions against cruelty, better enforcement mechanisms, and greater accountability within administrative bodies. Drawing inspiration from countries like Norway and Bhutan, she suggests that India can adopt models of ecological tourism and humane animal population control to create sustainable solutions.

For citizens, Ekta’s message is both simple and urgent. Awareness is the first step. “We must understand our rights to clean air, water, and land and our duties toward the environment,” she says. Responsible waste management, compassionate treatment of animals, and informed voting are, in her view, essential acts of citizenship. “We are living in toxic conditions, and it’s time our choices reflect that reality.”

Looking ahead, Ekta remains steadfast in her mission. She plans to continue offering legal support to those working for environmental protection and animal welfare, seeing her role not just as a lawyer, but as a custodian of justice in its broadest sense.