Dead Tiger: Chhattisgarh High Court Registers Suo-Moto Case Over Suspected Poaching In Guru Ghasidad National Park, Seeks Status Report From State

The Chhattisgarh High Court has registered a Suo-moto case based on a newspaper article revealing the death of a tiger suspected to have been killed by poaching. The article reported the discovery of a dead tiger in the unreserved Guru Ghasidas National Park, raising concerns about poaching.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the State Government's Forest and Climate Change Department to submit an affidavit within ten days regarding the steps and actions that have been taken to preserve the wildlife in the state.

After perusing the news item, the Court believed it to be a case of revenge killing as the half-eaten buffalo lay down near the tiger's carcass.

“From perusal of the said news item, it transpires that the carcass was found at the same location where the previous tiger poaching took place in June, 2022 and though the case of death of the tiger was suspected as poisoning, but as a half eaten buffalo lay nearby, it was believed to be a revenge killing.”, the court said.

The previous incident at the same location suggests a pattern that calls for immediate preventive measures. Hence, directing the Additional Chief Secy. to file an affidavit, the court pressed for accountability and transparency from the Forest Department on anti-poaching efforts and wildlife protection measures.

Case Title: IN THE MATTER OF SUO MOTO PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION versus STATE OF CHHATTISGARH, WPPIL No. 92 of 2024

Click here to read/download the order