SC notice to the Centre on wildlife

New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Tiger Conservation Authority on a PIL challenging the Constitutional validity of sub-section (2) of the section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

According to the petitioners the impugned section virtually permits encroachment of forest land by the land grabbers under the guise of the term' other forest dwellers.' A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker,however, directed that the notices to the states would be issued later after receiving the response of the Centre on the issue.

The apex court in its order dated November 13,2000 had directed that pending further orders no dereservation of forests/Sanctuaries/ National Parks be effected.

According to the petitioners Bombay Natural History Society and others, Natural heritage which included Wildlife falls within the ambit of expression right to life and liberty enshrined in Article 321 of the Constitution and hence the impugned amendment violates the right to life of the natural habitants of the forests including tigers who are facing virtual extinction due to repeated assault on their areas by the land grabbers in collusion with the authorities.

UNI AKS/SC RP KP1907