Supreme Court Dismisses Wildlife Petition

Supreme Court Ruling on Wildlife Trade Compliance: Summary of Key Points

1. Judicial Outcome:

   • The Supreme Court of India dismissed a writ petition regarding alleged violations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) concerning the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust, initiatives under Reliance's Vantara project.

2. Petition Details:

   • The petition was filed by Karanartham Viramah Foundation.
   • It sought records of permissions and licenses related to the center and trust since 2019 from various governmental bodies including the Union government and Central Zoo Authority.
   • CITES permits, internal evaluations, and communications with the CITES Secretariat were also requested.

3. Court's Observations:

   • Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N.V. Anjaria noted that disturbing the current environment and custody of animals could lead to cruelty.
   • A prior Special Investigation Team (SIT) had examined the situation, concluding no violations of laws and regulations were found.
   • The SIT report was accepted by the Supreme Court on September 15, 2025.
   • The CITES document cited by the petitioner did not indicate any illegal actions, asserting that existing imports were conducted with valid permissions.

4. Legal Considerations:

   • The Supreme Court emphasized that once permission for import is granted, it cannot be considered illegal subsequently due to later objections.
   • The petition had sought the formation of an independent National Wildlife Trade Compliance Monitoring Committee to evaluate compliance with CITES regulations.

5. Wildlife Protection Legislation:

   • The petition urged actions under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, which includes provisions for the suspension or cancellation of zoo recognitions if violations are found.
   • It requested a directive to develop a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for wildlife trade within three months.

6. CITES and Import Regulations:

   • CITES aims to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
   • The allegations included preventing further imports of endangered species into private facilities unless compliant with CITES.

7. Conclusion and Impact:

   • The Supreme Court's ruling reinforces the importance of adhering to international treaties like CITES while balancing the welfare of animals.
   • This decision also underscores the thoroughness of the SIT’s report, dispelling concerns regarding the legality of imports and the ethical treatment of wildlife in India.

This summary encapsulates the Supreme Court's stance on wildlife regulatory compliance and highlights significant legislative and judicial frameworks surrounding wildlife trade and protection in India.