CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and the Forest Department to take stern action against persons who cause death of wild animals by erecting electric fences in areas susceptible to man-animal conflict.

A Division Bench of Justice Dharmarao Elipe and Justice S. Palanivelu passed the order after recording the undertaking given by the authorities on Monday.

In 2002, advocate G. Rajendran filed a public interest litigation petition citing two incidents of electrocution of wild elephants in the Singara Range of the Nilgiris Forest Division and the Sirumugai Range of Coimbatore.

The Chief Wildlife Warden filed a counter-affidavit, saying even after intimation from Forest Department officials, the Board had not disconnected power supply to estates found using power for illegally erecting electric fences. He said the Department would continue to mount vigil along with the Board. "All necessary action has been taken by the Department to curb this illegal fencing, and suitable legal action has been initiated against those who commit the offence."

The Board superintending engineer, in his counter, said criminal cases had been registered against persons erecting electric fences. The Board never gave power supply for electric fencing. The Nilgiris administration formed a committee of officials from various departments. It would conduct surprise inspections as and when complaints were received.

Recording the statements, the Bench said the authorities must continue to take stern action against the offenders.

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