The Supreme Court of India recently intervened to prevent the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and other respondents from transferring the remaining deer in the Hauz Khas Deer Park to forests in other states.
The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued a notice to the DDA’s horticulture director and several other authorities, directing them to file a response by May 16, 2025, to a Special Leave Petition filed by the NGO New Delhi Nature Society.
Court’s Interim Order
“We restrain the respondents from shifting the existing deer out of the Deer Park… We also make it clear that the deer shall be properly looked after by the respondents,” the two-judge bench declared in its April 30 order. This interim injunction stands until the court examines the parties’ submissions at the next hearing.
Key Provisions Of Order
No Further Relocation: The DDA and associated authorities are prohibited from moving any more deer from the Hauz Khas enclosure to other states.
Care and Maintenance: The bench mandated that all deer currently at the park must receive appropriate care and protection under the respondents’ supervision.
Compliance Deadline: Authorities must file their detailed response to the NGO’s petition by the date fixed for the next hearing, May 16, 2025.
NGO’s Concerns & Allegations
The New Delhi Nature Society challenged the relocation on several grounds:
Lack of Habitat Assessment: The park’s planners did not conduct comprehensive environmental evaluations to determine whether the destination forests could sustain the deer.
Inadequate Veterinary Checks: According to the petition, the authorities failed to ensure that the animals underwent thorough health screenings before and after relocation.
Risk to Vulnerable Animals: Pregnant does and young fawns, especially susceptible to the stress of translocation, were at risk due to hurried procedures.
The NGO asserted that “around 600 deer in Hauz Khas were likely to be relocated without proper habitat assessments, veterinary checks, or safeguards for vulnerable groups like pregnant deer and fawns.” They further alleged that three batches of deer had already been shifted “hastily from Deer Park to sanctuaries in Rajasthan in contravention to wildlife protection laws.”
Legal Framework
Under India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, any translocation of wild animals must comply with stringent regulations, including:
Site Feasibility Studies: Ensuring the release area has adequate food, water, and shelter.
Health and Quarantine Protocols: Conducting pre- and post-movement health checks to prevent disease spread.
Permission from Competent Authorities: Securing clearances from both state and central wildlife boards.
The petitioners argue that bypassing these steps not only endangers the deer but also violates the statutory safeguards designed to preserve wildlife welfare.
DDA’s Position & Next Step
The DDA, responsible for the management of Deer Park, has yet to formally respond in court, though officials have previously defended the relocation as part of a broader plan to decongest the park and enhance its ecological balance. They maintain that the chosen sanctuaries in Rajasthan possess adequate facilities and that veterinary teams accompanied each relocation batch.
Intervention Significance
By granting the interim injunction, the Supreme Court underscores its vigilance in enforcing wildlife protection norms. This order not only preserves the status quo at Deer Park but also signals to authorities nationwide that any animal relocation must adhere strictly to legal and scientific protocols.
The next hearing, scheduled for May 16, 2025, will determine whether the DDA’s relocation plan meets the requisite environmental and legal standards. Until then, the deer at Hauz Khas Deer Park will remain under the court’s protective umbrella, ensuring they continue to receive care and oversight within their familiar habitat.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
