Uttarakhand High Court Directs State To Constitute Expert Committee To Tackle Man-Animal Conflicts

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Ramesh Chandra Khulbe also expressed disappointment over the non-implementation of the directives issued in that respect and observed,

"Mere issuance of directives on paper without actual implementation on the ground and regular follow up of compliance of directions so issued, serves no purpose and does not remedy the situation for which the directions are issued."

The Court noted that on 27.07.2022, directions were issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Uttarakhand with an objective to deal with man-animal conflict in the State, which is rampant in Ramnagar, Kotdwar and other hilly areas. However, being informed of the grim realities at the ground, the Court was constrained to direct the respondents to file a status report regarding compliance of the directions as issued above.

While expressing concern over the gravity of the situation, the Court further directed:

"Looking to the nature and enormity of the problem with regard to the man-animal conflict in the State, major portion whereof is covered with forest, we are inclined to direct the respondents to constitute an expert committee headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to review and implement the steps required for minimizing such conflict."

The committee has to be constituted within two weeks and the Principal Conservator has been asked to nominate other members of the committee. The Court ordered that persons with practical experience in dealing with man-animal conflict should be nominated on the committee.

It was mandated that the committee shall hold meeting at least once in two weeks.

Case Title: Anu Pant v. State of Uttarakhand through Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Case No.: WPPIL No. 74 of 2022

Coram: Vipin Sanghi, CJ & R.C. Khulbe, J.

Order Dated: 21^st November 2022

Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr. Abhijay Negi, Ms. Kethki Chaudhary & Ms. Snigdha Tiwari

Counsel for the Respondent: Mr. S.S. Chauhan, Deputy Advocate General

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