New Delhi: In a welcome move, the Supreme Court (SC) today upheld a 2011 order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of the animals and the closure of resorts in the area.
New Delhi: In a welcome move, the Supreme Court (SC) today upheld a 2011 order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of the animals and the closure of resorts in the area.
In July 2011, the Madras HC informed that the Tamil Nadu government was fully empowered under the 'Project Elephant' of the Union government as well as Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution to notify the elephant corridor situated in the Masinagudi area near the Mudumalai National Park in the Nilgris district.
"The Supreme Court Bench of S Abdul Nazeer and Sanjiv Khanna today dismissed the special leave petition filed by the Hospitality Association of Mudumalai and others against the 2011 Judgment of the Madras HC,” as quoted by Down To Earth (DTE).
To further hear the objections of resort owners and private land owners who argued that they had due permissions to operate their resorts, the SC bench directed to form a three-member committe led by a retired HC judge and two other persons.
During the last hearings in the case in January 2020, it may be recalled that Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde had stated “the area was a fragile ecosystem, where the will of men must give way to elephants."
It may be recalled that in August 2018, SC directed the TN government to seal or close 11 hotels and resorts constructed on the elephant corridor in the Nilgiri Hills, which were in violation of the law, within the next 48 hours. Expressing displeasure over encroachments in elephant corridor, the Justice Madan B Lokur directed that resorts and hotels with valid permits would have to produce their papers to the district collector within 24 hours or face demolition.
In July 2011, the Madras HC informed that the Tamil Nadu government was fully empowered under the 'Project Elephant' of the Union government as well as Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution to notify the elephant corridor situated in the Masinagudi area near the Mudumalai National Park in the Nilgris district.
"The Supreme Court Bench of S Abdul Nazeer and Sanjiv Khanna today dismissed the special leave petition filed by the Hospitality Association of Mudumalai and others against the 2011 Judgment of the Madras HC,” as quoted by Down To Earth (DTE).
To further hear the objections of resort owners and private land owners who argued that they had due permissions to operate their resorts, the SC bench directed to form a three-member committe led by a retired HC judge and two other persons.
During the last hearings in the case in January 2020, it may be recalled that Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde had stated “the area was a fragile ecosystem, where the will of men must give way to elephants."
It may be recalled that in August 2018, SC directed the TN government to seal or close 11 hotels and resorts constructed on the elephant corridor in the Nilgiri Hills, which were in violation of the law, within the next 48 hours. Expressing displeasure over encroachments in elephant corridor, the Justice Madan B Lokur directed that resorts and hotels with valid permits would have to produce their papers to the district collector within 24 hours or face demolition.