The Delhi High Court on Friday has dismissed the PIL seeking directions to the Veterinarian Council of India to issue guidelines to field veterinarian and research Institutes and Veterinary colleges of India to designate their role to contain spread of infection in Tiger Reserve while stating that authorities are equipped with the relevant information and knowledge to make informed decisions.
A bench comprising Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar has said, “that the authorities are equipped with the relevant information and knowledge to make informed decisions, and there is no reason to assume that they are not capable of performing their duties, or that there is lack of intent on their part to take all necessary steps,” while dismissing the PIL.
The Court further said, “that National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is conscious of the possible spread of COVID -19 amongst the tigers, and the NTCA has already issued a circular dated 06.04.2020 to the Chief Wildlife Warders of all Tiger Range States.”
The Courts decision came on a PIL filed by Sangeeta Dogra who sought directions to the authorities to contain the spread of COVID-19 Infection in Tiger Reserve.
The petitioner Ms. Dogra sought directions for the Veterinarian Council of India to issue guidelines to field veterinarian and research Institutes and Veterinary colleges of India to designate their role to contain the spread of Infection in Tiger Reserve. The petition also sought an Integrate team of Veterinarians, hydrologists, epidemiologists, veterinary microbiologists, Indian Veterinary Council with ICMR, to implement One Health Program to prevent the spread of Zoonotic disease in relation to protect Human-Animals-Environment transmission of zoonotic and other emerging diseases between wild and domestic animals and humans. Environmental protection, research, food safety, and public health.
Whereas, the Court observed that, “petitioner has not impleaded the Veterinary Council of India as a party respondent, even though she seeks relief directed to the said council.”
However, the petitioner appearing in person submitted before the court “…that the post mortem report of the Tiger T-21 has not been provided, and she suspects that his death was caused by COVID-19, as transmitted from humans to tigers.”
The Counsel for the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Anurag Ahluwalia appearing on an advance notice contended that “the post mortem report of Tiger T-21 is available and it clearly shows that the cause of its death was not COVID-19.” He also submitted that there is no evidence of any other animal dying with symptoms that would raise suspicion of the spread of COVID-19 amongst the animals.
The Court has also directed Mr. Ahluwalia to provide a copy of the postmortem report of the Tiger T-21 to Ms. Dogra.
-India Legal Bureau