The Chhattisgarh High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed questioning the orders dated 25-9-2018 and 16-3-2020 granting permission to translocate the Wild Buffaloes.
The PIL filed by one Nitin Singhv further sought relief to direct the Chhattisgarh State Forest Department to send back the two Wild Buffaloes (one male and one female) being kept in captivity in Barnawapara Sanctuary to their original habitat in Manas National Park, Assam.
In support of which the petitioner has relied upon the documents issued by the Wildlife Institute of India to bring four female wild buffaloes from the State of Assam to the State of Chhattisgarh and the matter leads to mixing of gene pool and on that basis, the petition was entertained on 22-3-2023.
When the matter is taken-up for hearing, the Additional Advocate General appearing for the State / respondents No.4 and 5 (Secretary, Forest Department, Government of Chhattisgarh and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) cum Chief WildLife Warden, Forest Department ) ,bring to the notice of the Court, the latest report issued by the Wildlife Institute of India on 3-4-2023 in which it has been held as under: –
“Conclusion Based on the genetic data generated from the samples provided and different analyses, it can be concluded that the samples provided by the Chhattisgarh Forest Department belong to pure wild buffalo from Assam. The genetic difference with domestic buffalo is much higher than wild buffalos. There is very low genetic differentiation in the mitochondrial Cytb with Chhattisgarh wild buffalo samples sequenced earlier (one sequence is identical for both population), making it suitable for use of these individuals for conservation breeding program. Therefore, these animals could be used a founders for the Conservation breeding program.”
The State / respondents No.4 and 5 has also brought into notice of the High Court the letter dated 14-3-2023 issued by the Government of Assam by which permission has been granted to capture 4 (four) sub-adult female wild buffaloes in Manas National Park and translocate to Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh subject to certain conditions mentioned therein.
The counsel for the parties submitted that based on the latest report of the Wildlife Institute of India dated 3-4-2023 and the letter of the Government of Assam dated 14-3-2023 challenge to the orders dated 25-9- 2018 and 16-3-2020 no longer survives for consideration.
Accordingly, in view of the letter of the Government of Assam dated 14-3-2023 and the latest report of the Wildlife Institute of India dated 3-4-2023 , the petition is finally disposed of by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal.