Governing the Nonhuman: Posthumanism, Law, and the Regulation of Animal Life in India

Abstract

This paper examines the governance of nonhuman life in India through the theoretical lens of posthumanism, with a specific focus on legal frameworks regulating animals. It examines the categorisation and regulation of animal life in wildlife conservation, animal husbandry, urban animal management and animal experimentation. This study draws from interdisciplinary research in law, environmental humanities and post humanist philosophy that examines the engagement of anthropocentric and eccentric and biocentric legal paradigms. The research uses doctrinal analysis and interpretation of secondary data to evaluate laws and judgements and enforcement. The article demonstrates that although progressive legal interpretations recognise the sentience of animals, regulatory measures are still mired in utilitarian and hierarchical human interests. Enforcement statistics show enforcement imbalances in states and industry. The paper proposes a re-conceptualisation of legal subjectivity to include nonhuman agency and a posthuman law that transcends human-animal binaries. This is essential to address ecological, ethical and governance challenges in contemporary India.