HC bar on removal of animals from snake park

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, DEC. 11. The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and the Wildlife Warden, not to remove till 4 p.m. tomorrow the reptiles and other animals impounded by the Forest officials in connection with the closing down the Parassinikkadavu Snake Park in Kannur.

Mr. Justice G. Sivarajan issued the directive on a petition filed by Mr. M.V. Raghavan, president, Parasinikkadavu Snake Park. The petition sought a directive to the Chief Conservator to release the animals and reptiles for keeping them in the snake park.

The petition was also referred to a Division Bench by the judge in view of the issues involved. (The Bench is likely to take up the issue tomorrow and pass appropriate orders).

In his petition, Mr. Raghavan said that when a writ challenging the notices for closing down the park came up, the court was assured on behalf of the Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) that no further action would be taken in the matter till the writ was disposed of. The writ had also sought a direction to the CCF to issue certificates of ownership of the creatures kept at the park. However, the Forest officials with police assistance swooped down on the park and forcibly took away the animals, birds and reptiles. The park authorities or its president had not been served notice before undertaking the exercise.

Mr. Raghavan in his petition said the employees of the park were taken into custody before the action and the creatures treated in a cruel manner. Some of them were even injured. The reptiles were kept in sacks and crocodiles tied to wooden poles before being bundled into vehicles. The acting secretary of the park, Mr. K.K. Nanu, who was present, did protest against the action of the Forest officials but to little avail. He even handed over a letter to Mr. Mehar Singh, Conservator of Forest, Northern Range, informing him that the action was a clear violation of the undertaking given before the High Court.

Mr. Raghavan said no notice or any confiscation order had been issued to him before taking the action. It was a blatant abuse of power by the Chief Conservator. Besides, it was an attempt to defeat the right of the petitioner to get recognition for the park. The forcible closure was a politically motivated action with a view to destroying the institution and would amount to undue interference with the administration of justice. The animals , birds and reptiles had been kept in an objectionable manner in cages and gunny bags. In fact, such an action amounted to cruelty to animals.

The Advocate General submitted before the court that immediately after the seizure, the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Payyavur, in charge of the Taliparamba Magistrate Court, had visited the park and ordered the officials to keep the animals in the park and feed them properly as they had to be verified by the court. The Magistrate proceeded to the park today for verification.

The Additional Director General of Prosecution also submitted that there had been no undertaking before the court as contended by the petitioner. The seizure was made in connection with some criminal cases registered against Mr. Raghavan, he said.

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