Virendra Gahwai, BilaspurA public interest litigation filed to stop atrocities on leopards in Chhattisgarh was heard in the High Court on Wednesday. In this case, the bench of Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami and Justice RCS Samant has issued a notice to the government and summoned the reply, now the matter will be heard after 4 weeks.
Petitioner Nitin Singhvi filed a petition in the High Court and said that only the forest department officials are increasing the human-leopard conflict. Without detecting whether there is a human leopard problem in the area or not, the animal sets up a cage, captures it, and leaves it at another place. Many kilometers away in the new forest, the leopard is distraught to find itself in an unknown place, under extreme stress, hunger, shock and depression, not knowing what to do. In such a situation, he can attack and eat pet animals in the new place.
Leopard is a protected wildlife under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The Forest Divisional Officer does not take any permission from the Chief Wildlife Conservator to catch the leopard. But after catching the leopard, ask permission to release it. The Chief Wildlife Warden continues to issue permission to release the leopard for 15 days after the leopard is captured and released. The Chief Wildlife Conservator does not take any action against the culprits, despite being aware of the leopards being caught by the forest division officials against the law. In this matter, after hearing in the High Court on Wednesday, the court has issued a notice to the state government and sought its response.
first published:April 27, 2022, 6:19 p.m.
