Issue Of Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Kerala HC Forms Expert Committee

The Kerala High Court recently formed an Expert Committee to assist and advise on short-term and long-term measures to address the problem of human-wildlife conflict, restoration of wildlife habitats and wildlife corridors.

A division bench of Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Gopinath made its suggestion made while hearing the case involving the translocation of the rogue elephant ‘Arikomban’ from Chinnakanal to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve.

The bench appointed Pramod G. Krishnan IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Vigilance and Forest Intelligence), Sri. O.P. Kaler IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Rtd.), Dr.M.Ananda Kumar, Nature Conservation Foundation, Valparai, and Dr.P.S.Easa, Chairman, Care Earth Trust, Chennai as Committee members from names suggested by the State Government and Amicus Curiae S. The Committee would be convened by Amicus Curiae.

The division bench has directed the Committee to meet as soon as possible this week and propose to the Court the terms of reference that will govern its operation.

It has also directed the committee to ensure that the Task Forces formed by the Court in various Panchayats meet every month and that reports are placed before it so that the Committee can bring any directions required to be issued regarding any matter therein to the Court’s attention.

It also added that the Committee’s terms of reference must also include monitoring of the Task Forces.

The Kerala Government’s Forest and Wildlife Department has also been directed to determine the honorarium to be paid to the Committee’s non-official members, including the Convenor.

The bench further directed the State and Central Governments, as well as the various Departments within them, to provide the Committee with the necessary assistance, including providing the information required by the Committee to carry out their functions. It was also reminded that any failure on the part of any official to cooperate with the Committee would be taken seriously and regarded as a direct violation of the Order’s directions.

The Court clarified, at the request of Additional Advocate General Asok M. Cherian, that the action to be taken by the Government based on the Committee’s recommendations would be issued by the Court only after hearing the government’s views.

The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on 25^th May, 2023.