The Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued a directive to both the Central and State governments to provide comprehensive details on the measures they have implemented following the alarming deaths of eight tigers in Kanha National Park. This judicial step was taken during a session on May 29, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by Mumbai-based advocate Subit Chakrabarti. The case is titled Subit Chakrabarti v. Union of India & Ors.
A division bench comprising Justices Vivek Jain and Ajay Kumar Nirankhari has issued notices to the Union of India, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the State of Madhya Pradesh, and senior forest officials. The court has mandated these respondents to provide specific details regarding both preventive and remedial measures they have undertaken to address the tiger casualties in Kanha National Park. Their responses are to be submitted within a two-week timeframe.
Among the documented fatalities are prominent tigers such as tigress T-122 Sunaina, tigress T-141 Amahi and her four sub-adult cubs, an adult male known as the Digdola, and tiger T-220 Mahaveer. These deaths, which occurred in April and May, have raised significant concerns. Officials have publicly linked several of these incidents to suspected Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) or similar respiratory infections.
The petitioner, Subit Chakrabarti, has alleged significant deficiencies in the enforcement of statutory tiger conservation measures as outlined in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and NTCA protocols. Key points of contention include Phase-IV monitoring, disease surveillance, veterinary services, and the management of distressed tigers and cubs.
Chakrabarti’s plea highlights that these deaths took place within Kanha’s Sarhi range, a core zone located near several villages. The petitioner contends that officials did not adequately implement dog-vaccination, surveillance, and sanitation measures necessary for these high-risk fringe areas.
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The plea further criticizes gaps in NTCA’s online mortality database, specifically regarding the biologically linked cluster of deaths involving T-141 and her cubs. Despite public acknowledgment of these events, the data is reportedly not transparently reflected. The petitioner calls for the production and preservation of all monitoring, veterinary, and necropsy records related to the deaths, full disclosure and enforcement of NTCA’s CDV advisories in the reserve vicinity, and the establishment of an independent expert committee to investigate lapses and recommend corrective measures.
Representing Chakrabarti in court were senior advocate Ansuman Singh and advocate Prateek Rusia. Deputy Solicitor General S.M. Guru, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Jain, and advocate Dev Sharma appeared on behalf of the Central government, while Deputy Advocate General Swapnil Ganguly represented the State.
[Read Order]
