Night Safari: HC orders notice to State, Union govt

Night Safari: HC orders notice to State, Union govt
Bangalore, Jan 4, DH News Service:

The High Court has ordered issue of notice to the State and Union governments in connection with the proposed night safari planned at Bannerghatta National Park.


Petitioner B R Deepak, a City-based advocate and party in person, had moved the HC seeking directions to the State to withdraw the decision passed in the Cabinet in connection with the night safari.

Petitioner submitted that the decision is a violation of Article 35 (6) of the Wildlife Protection Act. “Under this, no person shall destroy, exploit or remove any wildlife from a national park or destroy or damage or divert the habitat of any wild animal,” he said.

He said that Bannerghatta National Park is spread across 25,000 hectares (104 sq km), and is home to 215 species of birds, 150 species of butterflies and 20 species of snakes and over 250 species of trees.

Pointing out that the decision of night safari will disturb the animals and is violative of 48 (A) and 51 (A) (g) of the Constitution of India, he said, “As protection of wildlife and forests is a fundamental right.”

The division bench headed by Justice V Gopala Gowda has ordered notice to Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forests, State Government, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife warden and others.