The Curious Case Of Criminalizable Corporate Harms In India: The 1991 Economic Reforms And The Neoliberal Turn

In this study, I argue that the rationale determining criminalisable corporate harms has undergonea radical transformation from protection of public interest to boosting ease of doing business inIndia

The economic reforms (reforms) of 1991 is identified as the root cause of such transformation. I argue that corporate harms were initially criminalised majorly to protect public interest in the pre-reforms era. With the new mandate of creating a market-friendly economy, the reforms transformed this rationale having public interest as its major focus, to ease of doing business. Consistent with the neoliberal framework of the reforms, the ease of doing business rationale and the consequent decriminalisation of corporate harms are justified as incentivising private participation and generating wealth, benefitting all through the trickling-down effect.

Recommended Citation

T.H. Vishnu (2025) "The Curious Case Of Criminalizable Corporate Harms In India: The 1991 Economic Reforms And The Neoliberal Turn", GNLU Journal of Law And Economics : Volume VII 2024, Issue II
Available at: https://gnlu.ac.in/GJLE/Publications/The Curious Case Of Criminalizable Corporate Harms In India: The 1991 Economic Reforms And The Neoliberal Turn