The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the Field Officer of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to submit a detailed status report concerning tiger deaths within the reserve and the steps taken in cases involving unnatural deaths. The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf while hearing a public interest litigation that raised concerns over a significant number of tiger fatalities reported in the State.
The public interest litigation was filed by environmental activist Ajay Dubey, who is Secretary and Founder Member of an environmental action group named Prayatna. The petition relied on official data indicating that out of a total tiger population of 785 in the State, 54 tigers had died in the year 2025 alone. According to the petitioner, this was the highest number of tiger deaths recorded since the commencement of Project Tiger. The petition further stated that approximately 57 percent of these deaths were attributed to unnatural causes, including poaching, electrocution, and unexplained circumstances.
The petitioner drew attention to the alarming trend reflected in the data and referred to reports highlighting suspicious circumstances surrounding several of the deaths. It was contended that these figures raised serious concerns regarding enforcement, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms within the reserve. The petition emphasized that the frequency and nature of the deaths required urgent judicial scrutiny and oversight to ensure that appropriate action was being taken to safeguard the tiger population.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Aditya Sanghi, appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that additional tiger deaths had been reported since the previous hearing. He submitted that the continued reporting of fatalities demonstrated the seriousness of the issue and underscored the need for a comprehensive status report from the authorities. The court was told that the situation demanded a clear account of how many tiger deaths had occurred, the causes of those deaths, and the legal action initiated in cases where unnatural causes were identified.
Taking note of the submissions, the Division Bench directed the Field Director of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to file a detailed report specifying the number of tiger deaths and categorizing them based on cause. The court further directed that in cases involving unnatural deaths, the report must set out the steps taken to prosecute individuals found responsible. This included information regarding the initiation of criminal proceedings and the status of such prosecutions.
The court’s direction was aimed at obtaining a transparent and comprehensive account of the measures taken by forest authorities in response to tiger deaths. The bench sought clarity on whether appropriate investigations had been conducted in cases of unnatural death and whether offenders, if identified, were being prosecuted in accordance with the law. The requirement to submit a status report reflected the court’s concern over the pattern of fatalities and the need for accountability.
The petition highlighted that tiger deaths had occurred under various circumstances, including electrocution and other suspicious situations. The data presented indicated that a substantial proportion of the deaths were not due to natural causes. The petitioner argued that this raised questions about the adequacy of preventive measures and enforcement mechanisms in place to protect wildlife within the reserve.
The court’s order required the authorities to place on record a factual account of the number of tiger deaths and the steps taken in each case. The bench made it clear that the report must specifically address action taken to prosecute offenders in cases where deaths were found to be unnatural. By directing the submission of this report, the court sought to ensure that the matter was examined in detail and that the State’s response to wildlife crimes was subject to judicial review.
The matter was listed for further hearing to enable the filing of the status report and to allow for further consideration of the issues raised in the petition. The proceedings reflect the court’s engagement with concerns relating to wildlife conservation and enforcement of legal protections for endangered species. The direction to submit a comprehensive report indicates that the court intends to closely monitor the steps taken by authorities in addressing tiger deaths and prosecuting those responsible in cases involving unlawful acts.
Through its order, the High Court emphasized the necessity of transparency and accountability in matters concerning tiger conservation. The filing of the status report is expected to provide detailed information on the number of deaths, the classification of those deaths as natural or unnatural, and the legal measures undertaken in response. The case remains pending for further consideration upon receipt of the report from the Field Director of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
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