NEW DELHI: In the centuries-old human-animal conflict invariably leading to constricting the wild habitat, the Supreme Court on Friday gave an assurance to wildlife that the court would always lean towards the animals who suffer silently when their migration paths are impeded by commercial tourism ventures.A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said this while hearing petitions by various wildlife resorts, which have been asked to vacate after the Tamil Nadu government notified elephant corridors in Sigur Plateau in the Nilgiris.The HC on September 12 had approved the recommendation of an SC-appointed committee, which had declared that the land purchased by private parties on the elephant corridors in Sigur Plateau was illegal and that the constructions raised on these lands need to be dismantled.The HC order came on petitions by owners of private forest lodges/resorts, which had challenged the findings of the expert committee headed by former judge K Venkataraman. The committee was set up by the SC after the district collector of Nilgiris had informed the apex court that there was a total of over 800 constructions, including 39 resorts and 390 houses, inside the Sigur elephant corridor. The authorities sent demolition notices to 35 resorts last year.Senior advocates Salman Khurshid and Shoeb Alam argued that owners of these resorts/forest lodges had bought the properties much before the elephant corridors had been notified, and that they should be allowed to continue with their eco-friendly business with a rider that they must not expand their business ventures.The bench said, “The finding of the committee is clear – all of you are there for commercial purposes and on the elephant corridor. This definitely interferes with elephant movement. If at any time there is any doubt where the benefit should go, it must go to these silent victims (elephants and wild animals) of commercial development.”However, it agreed with Alam’s request to hear all the petitions, some of which are pending from earlier, together and posted the final hearing on January 5.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosChina Reviving Air, Submarine Bases In Bangladesh Amid Unrest, Ex-Envoy Warns Of Strategic TrapUN Warns Bangladesh Against Violence After Protest Leader Osman Hadi Shot, Seeks Accountability Now’Yoga Is Medicine, Not Just Practice’: PM Modi’s Global Message At WHO Traditional Medicine SummitVaping, Bhow-Bhow & Shouting Match: A Look At Viral Moments Of Parl As Chaotic Winter Session EndsBondi Beach Terror Suspect Visited Hyderabad Six Times After Leaving India, Telangana Police Reveal’To Delay Elections, Instigate India’: Former Minister Blames Yunus Govt For Bangladesh ViolenceBangladesh Crisis: Tharoor Panel Red Flags 5 Reasons That Make It India’s Biggest Test Since 1971Rijiju Blames Congress As Parliament Session Ends Without Pollution Debate, Jairam Ramesh RespondsBangladesh: Hindu Man Lynching Sparks Outrage, Former Indian Envoy Calls Situation Total MobocracyExplained: Why Bangladesh’s Fresh Unrest Ahead Of Polls Is One Of India’s Biggest Strategic Worries123PhotostoriesChristmas 2025: Best Christmas books to gift your childBollywood’s green brigade, Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham, Shahid Kapoor, go plant-poweredThese places can bring bad luck based on your birth dateWeight loss Diet: How to make Mushroom Oats Omelette with just 1 tsp oil for breakfastCelebrity divorces and breakups in Bollywood in 2025: From Dhanashree Verma-Yuzvendra Chahal to Tamannaah Bhatia to Vijay Verma5 simple moves that keep kids active without calling it a workoutMerry Christmas 2025: The hidden science behind snowflakes and why no two are ever the sameBaby names inspired by female warriors of IndiaThe right way to add protein to your diet, according to ICMRAlia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Ayushmann Khurrana redefine method dressing123Hot Picksvb g ram gEpstein files releasedUAE RainGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays DecemberBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingJosh Allen Luxury Car CollectionRandi MahomesAuston MatthewsWho is Nicole LundersJeremy Doku and Shireen Doku Net WorthRBSE Rajasthan Board Exam Time TableWalker Buehlers WifeSibley ScolesAssam Rajdani Express TragedyUS Strikes
NEW DELHI: In the centuries-old human-animal conflict invariably leading to constricting the wild habitat, the Supreme Court on Friday gave an assurance to wildlife that the court would always lean towards the animals who suffer silently when their migration paths are impeded by commercial tourism ventures.A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said this while hearing petitions by various wildlife resorts, which have been asked to vacate after the Tamil Nadu government notified elephant corridors in Sigur Plateau in the Nilgiris.The HC on September 12 had approved the recommendation of an SC-appointed committee, which had declared that the land purchased by private parties on the elephant corridors in Sigur Plateau was illegal and that the constructions raised on these lands need to be dismantled.The HC order came on petitions by owners of private forest lodges/resorts, which had challenged the findings of the expert committee headed by former judge K Venkataraman. The committee was set up by the SC after the district collector of Nilgiris had informed the apex court that there was a total of over 800 constructions, including 39 resorts and 390 houses, inside the Sigur elephant corridor. The authorities sent demolition notices to 35 resorts last year.Senior advocates Salman Khurshid and Shoeb Alam argued that owners of these resorts/forest lodges had bought the properties much before the elephant corridors had been notified, and that they should be allowed to continue with their eco-friendly business with a rider that they must not expand their business ventures.The bench said, “The finding of the committee is clear – all of you are there for commercial purposes and on the elephant corridor. This definitely interferes with elephant movement. If at any time there is any doubt where the benefit should go, it must go to these silent victims (elephants and wild animals) of commercial development.”However, it agreed with Alam’s request to hear all the petitions, some of which are pending from earlier, together and posted the final hearing on January 5.
