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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Thursday deferred hearing in a Public Interest Litigation plea against the regularities in setting up Privately-Owned Rescue Centers Funded by Foreign Countries.

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad listed the matter for hearing on January 20, 2023.

The petition filed by Sangeeta Dogra alleged that the privately owned and foreign funded rescue centre(s) are given recognition without following due process of law. It submitted that these rescue centre(s) are nearly a game reserve ( concentration camp of elephants) which is a large area of land where wild animals are housed and bred, and hunted in a way for sports hunting, although, the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 banned Sports Hunting in the Year 1972.

The plea stated that the authorities have refused to comply with the Supreme Court's order wherein, the court had directed the Central Zoo Authority and State(s) to comply with Central Zoo Authority Compliances and seek approval from the Apex Court to establish Zoos/ Rescue Centre(s).

Given the above, the plea alleged that the private rescue centers to get foreign funds have been observed to be committing cruelty on elephants, illegally breeding animals, and involved in the sale and purchase of animals. It further alleged that the centers trim elephant tusks (hunting), and upon the death of elephants they don't dispose of these animals per the due process.

"During the so-called rescue process they injure, beat, punches, poke elephants with sharp objects and by showcasing elephants' wounds they generate foreign donations to expand their business of illegal sale and purchase of elephants, ivory trade," the plea added.

The petition impleaded the Central Zoo Authority, Project Elephant, People for Animal Trust through its Chairperson Maneka Gandhi, Wildlife SOS NGO, Wildlife SOS India Foundation, Ministry of Home Affairs FCRA Wing, Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, and Central Empowered Committee (appointed by the Supreme Court) as respondent parties.

The plea sought direction to the Central Zoo Authority to cancel the recognition of the rescue centres which are privately owned by People for Animal Trust through its Chairperson Maneka Gandhi, Wildlife SOS NGO, and Wildlife SOS India Foundation at various locations and comply with the directions of the apex court to rehabilitate animals in the wild habitat.

Furthermore, the plea sought direction to conduct a special audit of finance-related activities of the above-mentioned organizations. It also sought direction to investigate the elephant mortality housed from 2009 to 2022 in the facility of Wildlife SOS NGO and Wildlife SOS India Foundation for the alleged illicit ivory trade and trimming of hunted elephant tusks.

Case Title: Sangeeta Dogra Vs. Union of India & Ors.