Supreme Court has directed a CEC member to periodically visit the Kukrail Reserve and submit compliance reports.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the Uttar Pradesh Government to go ahead with its 'night safari and zoological park project' at Kukrail Reserve Forest in Lucknow.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana has directed a member of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to periodically visit the site and submit reports to the Court.

"State of UP is permitted to proceed with the project subject to clearing of conditions imposed by CEC, MoEFCC. We direct CEC member to periodically visit the site and submit reports. Let the first report be submitted within 3 months," the Court has directed.

A CEC report was placed before the Supreme Court today. ASG KM Natraj told the CJI Surya Kant led bench that once the CEC gives a formal report private parties cannot be allowed to object for such proposals.

CJI Kant went on to tell the petitioners before it that the project was an approved one, and the central authority had already also given its go ahead. The Uttar Pradesh government also told the Supreme Court that it was in full agreement with the report submitted by the CEC.

As the petitioners continued to argue that the land was a reserve forest area, the CJI asked, “What is the problem? The country should remain standstill. This entire country should remain standstill. We will ensure that conditions given by the domain experts are followed by them”.

Divided into two phases, the project is India's first urban night safari at the sprawling 5,000-hectare Kukrail Reserve Forest and will cost about Rs 1,500 crore. While granting approval, the CEC had rejected the government's proposal to shift the Lucknow Zoo (72-acre-wide) to Kukrail and asked it to widen the existing road that traverses through the forest into a two-lane route instead of a four-lane-wide corridor, given the sensitivity of the region. The adventure zone, which was originally planned with a tram service, after-dark forest experience, activities and augmented reality-based theatre, too, has been scrapped.

Court today noted that that assurances have been given that all conservation steps would be taken and invasive species removed, and that the existing zoo did not fall within the wildlife corridor. It further recorded that the CEC had submitted a comprehensive report recommending approval of the night safari, subject to stringent conditions, and that the State government had agreed to comply with all the conditions.

Case Title: ASHOK KUMAR SHARMA, INDIAN FOREST SERVICE (RETD) Vs UNION OF INDIA

Bench: CJI Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana

Hearing Date: July 15, 2026

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