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Tigers live in `distressing' condition: SC

Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Sept. 18

TERMING as `distressing' the situation regarding the welfare of the tiger population both in captivity and in the wild, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Solicitor General, Mr Harish N. Salve, to file within two weeks an affidavit suggesting steps to be taken by the States and the Centre to remedy the situation.

The direction was given by a three-judge bench comprising the Chief Justice, Mr Justice A.S. Anand, Mr Justice Santosh N. Hegde and Mr Justice K.G. Balakrishnan during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation by Mr Navin M. Raheja, seeking dir ection for the protection of the dwindling tiger population in the country and strict implementation of the Forest Protection Act.

``The affidavit shall be filed after considering the suggestions made in a note submitted to the court by the petitioner and the report of the expert committee, which went into the causes of the death of 14 tigers in July last including white ones at the Nandan Kanan Zoo in Orissa,'' the Court said.

A cursory look at the report of the expert committee, the court pointed out, shows that much needs to be done for the welfare of the tiger both in captivity and in the reserves. The situation is really distressing, the court said.

Earlier, Mr Salve apprised the court of the report of the expert committee and said the core problem was the management of zoos, where much needed to be done and the implementation of the Forest Protection Act. The difficulty in regard to the implementat ion of the Act arose because the Act was Central whereas its implementation was to be done by the States -- forests being a State subject.

He admitted that our zoos were over-crowded and the necessary facilities were lacking, making the animals prone to all kinds of deceases. He suggested formation of a nodal agency to implement the model zoo guidelines which were seldom cared for.

``Both the determination and inclination for the protection of the tiger are missing. Tigers, specially white ones are our pride possession. They have to be taken care of. But since they cannot speak, take up banners and march in a procession, they are b eing ignored,'' the Chief Justice quipped.