HC seeks Chhattisgarh govt response on “unauthorised” seize and translocation of leopards

Express News Service

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh excessive court docket has served discover to the state authorities searching for a response on public curiosity litigation (PIL) filed to forestall the “unauthorised practices” to seize and translocate leopards by the forest division, allegedly in full violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the laid down Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami and Justice RCS Samant listening to the plea has requested the state to file a reply inside the subsequent 4 weeks.

The petitioner Nitin Singhvi, a wildlife fanatic, has filed a PIL citing that the Chhattisgarh forest division performing on their very own whims and fancies had adopted a trial and error technique whereas capturing leopards and releasing them again within the wild.

He enumerated situations the place the forest division had up to now “arbitrarily” translocated the leopards after capturing them, even inflicting the loss of life of 1. 

“Indian Leopard, a Schedule-1 animal, has been given special safeguard under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. It should be captured or translocated unless the Chief Wild Life Warden gives an opinion in writing that the animal has become dangerous to human life. Besides, permission also needs to be taken from the Central Government. The decision to capture should only be the last option and the animal be released in its vicinity as they are inherently feel attached to their areas”, the petitioner argued.

It’s ridiculous that the leopards are captured merely on the orders of the divisional forest officer (DFO) and launched wherever they need, he added.

“Not just the rules of the Centre are breached, the forest department violated the state’s own laid down guidelines. And such unacceptable actions are also leading to increased man-leopard conflict in Chhattisgarh”, the petitioner affirmed.