Kerala High Court Constitutes Expert Committee To Address Issue Of Human-Animal Conflicts, Restoration Of Wildlife Corridors

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday constituted an Expert Committee to aid and advise regarding the short-term and long-term measures to address the problem of human-wildlife conflict, restoration of wildlife habitats, restoration of wildlife corridors and matters incidental to it.

The Division Bench comprising Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Gopinath P. actualized its suggestion made while hearing the case pertaining to the translocation of the rogue elephant 'Arikomban' to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve from Chinnakanal.

From the names suggested by the State Government and Amicus Curiae S. Ramesh Babu, the Court appointed Pramod G. Krishnan IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Vigilance and Forest Intelligence) and Sri. O.P. Kaler IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Rtd.), Dr.M.Ananda Kumar, Nature Conservation Foundation, Valparai and Dr.P.S.Easa, Chairman, Care Earth Trust, Chennai, as Committee members. Amicus Curiae would act as the Convenor of the Committee.

The Court has directed the Committee to meet at the earliest in the forthcoming week and suggest to the Court the terms of reference that would guide its functioning.

It has also directed the committee to ensure that the Task Forces constituted by the Court in various Panchayats, would meet every month with reports being placed before it so that the Committee could bring to the notice of the Court, any directions required to be issued regarding any matter therein. It was added by the Court that the terms of reference placed by the Committee shall also necessarily include the monitoring of the Task Forces. 

The Government of Kerala in the Forest and Wildlife Department has also been directed to fix the honorarium to be paid to the non-official members of the Committee, including the Convenor. 

"At the stage of implementing the Committee's recommendations, we may draw upon the expertise of other persons as well," the Court said.  

The Court directed the State and Central Governments as well as the various Departments under the same to render the necessary assistance to the Committee, including furnishing the information required by the Committee for carrying out their functions. It reminded that any failure on the part of any Official to cooperate with the Committee would also be viewed seriously and be regarded as a direct breach of the directions in the Order. 

Upon the request of the Additional Advocate General Asok M. Cherian, the Court clarified that the action to be taken by the Government on the basis of the recommendations of the Committee would be issued by the Court only after hearing government's views.

The matter has been posted for further consideration on May 25, 2023. 

Case Title: In Re Bruno v. Union of India & Ors.

Click Here To Read/Download The Order