Chennai: Madras high court has prohibited any person including members of the Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association from entering into the reserve forest area in Nilgiris district, except forest officials to discharge their official functions alone.
Justice N. Kirubakaran passed the interim order and posted to October 4, further hearing of a petition filed by advocate L. Seetharaman, which sought a direction to the authorities to verify the antecedents of the newly admitted members of the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association in the interest of forest, wildlife and nature and to remove the members who are unconnected with the cause of conservation and with criminal antecedents.
The judge also directed the Nilgiris district collector to issue a circular through public notice as well as through websites, inviting objections or details of the antecedents of the members of the association and file a report.
The judge said though the matter relates to the administration of an association called the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association, from the arguments put forth by all parties, it was seen that in the name of the members of the association, people enter into the reserve forest area and allegedly were poaching animals and also staying during night times in the reserve forest area, especially, in the ‘Mukurthi Fishing Hut’ administered by the association.
The very object of the association was for protection of wildlife, conservation of environment and natural resources of the Nilgiris and engaging in the activities relating to it. From the counter affidavit filed by the Nilgiris district collector, prima facie, it is clear that the Association is not functioning satisfactorily and members are busy fighting for the membership of the association, as the membership gives a social status to claim them as environment and wildlife servants. The reserve forest area is being used for recreational activities, not only by the members, but by the guests of the members of the association also, the judge added.
This court could infer that some of the officials were also involved, the judge said.
“This court is interested in protecting the reserve forest area and animals in that area. Therefore, in the interest of justice, requires to prohibit any person, including the members of the association from entering into the reserve forest area, except the forest officials until further orders. The officials shall enter into the reserve forest area, to discharge their official functions alone”, the judge added.
In his petition, Seetharaman submitted that Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association was established in 1877 with an object to conserve the wildlife, habitat and natural resources of the Nilgiri hills. The district collector was the president of the association. The association has been managed by renowned people all along.
