New Delhi:
During the hearing of the case related to Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, a bench headed by Supreme Court Justice BR Gavai said that it wants a uniform policy at the all India level. As far as the management of tiger reserves is concerned, we want a uniform policy across the country. The policy should also include the aspect of vehicular movement inside the tiger reserves.
Justice Gavai noted the recent suo motu cognizance of the Bombay High Court over an incident in which safari vehicles carrying tourists killed a tigress and her cubs in Maharashtra’s Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Sanctuary on New Year’s Eve. Movement was hindered. Senior advocate K Parameshwara, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae in the case, cited the CBI investigation into illegal construction and felling of trees in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The bench said that it has seen the CBI report in this case. The lawyer appearing for the Uttarakhand government informed the bench about the departmental inquiry initiated against those officers. The lawyer said that departmental investigation has been completed in 17 cases and is pending in some.
When the state counsel referred to the CBI investigation, the bench said that you are not related to the CBI. Adjourning the hearing of the case related to Corbett Tiger Reserve to March 19, the bench said that we want to make it clear that if by March 19 we find that you are not serious in taking action, your Chief Secretary will be called here. .
The bench also wanted to know what action has been taken against the officials concerned and how many of them have been punished. The state counsel said that he would file a detailed affidavit in this regard. Also, the bench has asked the CBI to file a report on the further investigation conducted in the case before the next date of hearing.