The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a petition seeking a nationwide ban on overnight stays by tourists in the core zones of tiger reserves. The plea, which argued that such stays increase vehicular traffic and pose a threat to ecological balance, failed to convince the bench.
A two-judge bench led by Chief Justice B. R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih emphasized the need to consider the economic impact on local communities. “This may affect the livelihood of the locals,” Chief Justice Gavai remarked, rejecting the call to restrict tourist accommodations in protected tiger zones.
The court is expected to deliberate further on Friday, focusing on whether the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) should be empowered to issue binding directives to states and other authorities on tiger conservation matters, rather than just guidelines.
Previously, the bench had underscored the necessity of a uniform national policy for managing tiger reserves, which would also address concerns such as vehicular movement within protected areas.
The issue of tourism-related disruption was recently highlighted by the Bombay High Court, which took suo motu cognisance of an incident on New Year’s Eve, where safari vehicles allegedly blocked a tigress and her cubs in the Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Sanctuary near Nagpur. Chief Justice Gavai referenced the incident during the hearing, noting, “Fortunately, the High Court has already taken notice of it.”
Senior advocate K. Parameshwar, acting as amicus curiae in the case, brought to the court’s attention a CBI investigation into illegal construction and deforestation within the Corbett Tiger Reserve, further underscoring the need for stronger regulatory mechanisms.
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