The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea against a Gauhati High Court order which had indefinitely postponed a case concerning the conservation efforts in Kaziranga National Park. The bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, pointed out that the issues raised are already under consideration by the apex court, particularly those regarding the declaration of an eco-sensitive zone around the park.
During the session, the justices advised the petitioner’s counsel to withdraw the plea that challenged the High Court’s decision and instead suggested filing an application in the ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court. Following the advice, the counsel retracted the plea, reserving the right to submit a more appropriate application directly to the Supreme Court.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initially filed in the High Court highlighted various concerns about the protection of biodiversity and the ecosystem of Kaziranga, including the need for an eco-fragile zone and the safeguarding of nine notified animal corridors. It also called for action against alleged unauthorized industrial and other non-forest activities adversely impacting the park.
A significant point of contention raised by the petitioner was the non-forest activity, including land settlements within the forest area, which they claimed could potentially threaten the survival of the iconic one-horned rhinoceros. The petitioner supported their arguments with a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, which warned that changes in land use and other non-forest activities could drive the species to extinction.
When the High Court adjourned the matter sine die last December, it did so noting the absence of decisive evidence that the Supreme Court had settled the matter concerning the eco-sensitive zone specific to Assam and Kaziranga National Park.
