The Calcutta High Court has taken up a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an inquiry into the death of an elephant during its forced removal from Jhargram town on August 15-16, 2024.
The court’s decision comes after the state government submitted that a similar issue had been dealt with in an earlier petition and certain directions had been issued.
However, the petitioner’s counsel argued the elephant in question was different from the one in the previous case.
The Divisional Forest Officer, Jhargram Division, had filed an affidavit-in-opposition on behalf of the respondent state, raising technical objections regarding the applicant company.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya observed that as this was a PIL, it expected a response from the Forest Department on the issue rather than raising technical objections.
The state government’s counsel sought permission to withdraw the affidavit-in-opposition and requested time to file a fresh affidavit addressing the allegations made in the PIL.
The court also noted that the Supreme Court had entertained a contempt notice against the Government of West Bengal in a related matter.
The Forest Department officials were directed to furnish necessary details in the affidavit to be filed by the state.
The matter has been listed for further consideration on February 11, 2025.
The affidavit-in-opposition filed on behalf of the respondent state has been returned to the counsel representing the state.