No Fruitful Intervention: Kerala High Court Refuses To Entertain PIL With 'Wide Ranging Prayers' For Resolution Of Human-Wildlife Conflicts

The Kerala High Court recently refused to entertain a public interest litigation containing "wide-ranging prayers" for peaceful resolution of wildlife conflict in the State, among others. The petition contained nineteen prayers including a prayer for implementation of recommendation dated 31.03.2022 made by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) regarding preventive and mitigative measures in respect of Human Wildlife Conflict.Some of the other prayers in the PIL included, direction to the central and state governments to frame rule and guidelines to restrain and prohibit publishing any speech, visual or audio material or usage of any discourteous language such as kill and eat wild animals, dangerous animal, disturbances of wildlife such or any other content through any media that challenges compassion towards animals or promotes sentiments. The PIL also prayed for direction to the Press Council of India to prevent publication of content portraying wild animals in discourteous language which turns public hostile towards wildlife. It also sought to direct Election Commission of India (ECI) to order prohibiting speech by political parties and candidates in such manner which turns public hostile towards wildlife.When the matter was taken up on August 12, the court had after going through the prayers said, "For an effective intervention, the petition has to be drafted in a precise manner. The petition contains nineteen prayers of diverse nature and it is quite clear that dealing with the petition as presented will not lead to any meaningful intervention".The court had said that since the Petitioner is appearing in person, it would be advisable that he seeks assistance in drafting the petition. On October 28 the petitioner submitted before a division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Syam Kumar VM that it was not possible to make amendments as suggested by the Court. The court thereafter said,“We are not inclined to entertain the petition with such wide ranging prayers. Entertaining the petition with such prayers will not lead to any fruitful intervention".The court said that as and when the Petitioner files a proper petition/petition with precise prayers, the Court may consider taking up the cause. The Court thus, disposed of the petition by keeping the cause open.Case Title: Angels Nair v. Union of India and Ors.Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 702Case No: WP(PIL) 98/2025Counsel for Respondents: R Prem Sankar, (FP), M Ajay, Ashok M Cherian (Addl. AG), T S Shyam Prasanth (Sr. GP) Click Here To Read/ Download Judgment

No Fruitful Intervention: Kerala High Court Refuses To Entertain PIL With 'Wide Ranging Prayers' For Resolution Of Human-Wildlife Conflicts

Anamika MJ

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