The Supreme Court today concluded proceedings in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2017 concerning the alarming rate of tiger deaths in India. The case was closed after the petitioner, who had originally brought the issue to the Court’s attention, expressed satisfaction with the steps taken by the government since the PIL was initiated.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar passed the order, noting that the petitioner no longer wished to pursue the PIL, given the substantial improvements in tiger conservation efforts. The Court, however, granted the petitioner the liberty to return to either the Supreme Court or the relevant High Court if necessary in the future.
During the hearing, the petitioner, who represented himself, stated that he was pleased with the progress made since 2017. He noted, “We are doing better than what we were in 2017, so I am happy.” In response, the bench indicated that it was inclined to bring the case to a close.
Before finalising the order, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati suggested that the bench review the latest statistics on tiger deaths. However, Justice Khanna responded that the bench had already reviewed the data and was satisfied with the progress, acknowledging that “good work has been done.” He also remarked that while improvements had been made, there is always room for further progress.
The PIL, filed in 2017, highlighted the disturbing trend of tiger deaths, citing data from the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The petitioner reported that 41 tigers had been killed in just seven months between January and August 2015, and 74 tiger deaths were recorded in 2016. These deaths were attributed to man-animal conflicts, poaching, and other causes, including alleged involvement of locals and forest authorities.
A significant development in the case came in 2018 when a census reported the presence of 2,967 tigers across 53 tiger reserves in India. However, the issue resurfaced in 2023 when 30 tiger deaths were reported within just two months, prompting the Supreme Court to ask the Central government for updated figures on tiger mortality.
With today’s order, the Supreme Court has effectively closed a chapter in the ongoing efforts to protect India’s tiger population, while also leaving the door open for future legal recourse should the situation require it.
