Madras High Court Reserves Orders Regarding Movement Of Vehicles Through Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

The Madras High Court has reserved orders in the matter pertaining to the night traffic ban in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.

Earlier, the bench comprising of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy had directed the Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran to file an affidavit detailing the alternative routes that can be utilised for movement of traffic and details about whether the electricity supply in the area would allow the installation of CCTV cameras every 5 kms. The court also wanted to know how and under what circumstances did the trolleys weighing over 60 tons were allowed to ply in the region despite the clear signboard at the entry point prohibiting the same.

Considering the complications that was being faced by the public as well as the Government Departments after the implementation of the night ban, the court had passed an interim order to get suggestions from the petitioners in order to regulate the traffic on the road falling in the tiger reserve.

Today, the court considered the Status Report Filed by the 4th respondent, District Collector. In the Status report, the respondent discussed the suggestions put forward by the petitioners in the matter. The petitioners had suggested that emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire engines etc may be allowed without restraint even during night time. It was also suggested to permit the local persons to use the highway within the tiger reserve and to construct tunnels or overpasses for tackling the issue of animal killing.

Based on the above recommendations, the respondent suggested that from 6:00 P.M to 5:00 A.M, any vehicle which is more than a 6 wheeler may not be allowed to ply in the stretch of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and that from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM, night traffic may be implemented except for medical emergencies and for local persons subject to verification of proof of local residence

It was also suggested to install adequate road safety infrastructure to prevent accidents and to construct speed breakers in the Accident Prone Zone and Animal Road Kill Zone by concerned departments as per the rules in force.

The respondent also suggested that they were willing to make necessary amendments in the Erode District Gazette Notification based on the suggestions received from the petitioners and on the decisions made by the State Government and sought direction from the court to allow the same.

The court while considering the status report filed by the respondent suggested imposition of restrictions even during the day. The court expressed serious concern over protection of peace in the area. It was suggested that restrictions could be imposed for movement of commercial vehicles even during the day. It was also suggested that the vehicles may use the alternative routes.

Case Title: S.P Chockalingam v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Ors. & Connected Matters.

Case No: WP 1830/ 2022 (PIL) & Others