Kerala High Court Dismisses Plea Challenging Order To Shoot Man-Eating Tiger In Wayanad; Imposes 25K Costs

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that had been filed challenging the Order that had been issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Chief Wildlife Warden directing appropriate steps to be taken to shoot the tiger that had attacked and partially eaten a farmer in Wayanad. 

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A.J. Desai and Justice V.G. Arun imposed a cost of Rs. 25,000/- while dismissing the plea. 

"Considering the above order, which in our opinion a well reasoned order, we feel that this public interest litigation has been filed only with motives known to the petitioner. And we dismiss this petition with cost of Rs. 25,000/-. The amount shall be deposited with the Legal Aid within a period of two weeks from today," the Court ordered. 

The incident occurred on December 9, 2023, when the partially eaten body of the deceased was found 500 meters away from the forest stretch. 

The petitioner, Animal and Nature Ethics Community (ANEC) averred that the order issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden to shoot the tiger in case it could not be captured and tranquilized. 

The Court however found that the impugned order had been issued by the authority only after going through various communications and expert committee reports. 

The plea was thus dismissed, after imposing costs on the petitioner.  

The plea was moved through Advocates Denu Joseph, Santhosh T.S., Muhiseena V.Z., and Manju M.K. 

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Ker) 726

Case Title: Animals and Nature Ethics Community (ANEC) v. Union of India & Ors. 

Case Number: WP(C) 41754/ 2023