Expressing concern over the poor enforcement of the Wildlife (Protection) Act in the State, the Orissa High Court has directed the State Director General of Police (DGP) to submit an affidavit to the
court detailing as to how to tackle elephant poaching, which
has assumed alarming proportions.
The Forest Department has informed the High Court that at least 14 cases of elephant poaching have taken place in the State in the past five years. In many of these cases, the elephants were found dead or grievously injured with bullet or pallet wounds. “It is surprising that in none of these cases the Arms Act has been invoked,” the HC observed.
A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice S Muralidhar, while adjudicating a writ petition on the relevant issue, observed that the Special Task Force (STF) of the State Crime Branch, which has been entrusted to enforce the Wildlife (Protection) Act, is overburdened in dealing with a whole host of other crimes apart from the wildlife-related crimes.
“A concerted effort has to be made to activate the law
enforcement machinery for strict enforcement of Wildlife (Protection)
Act and all other related laws including the Arms Act,” the HC said on Monday directing that the case be listed again on August 17. The DGP was asked to submit his affidavit before the next date of hearing.
When the court’s attention was drawn to the fact that some forest employees have also been arraigned as accused in the poaching cases,
the HC also directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)
of Wildlife to submit a separate chart with an affidavit detailing the current status of departmental proceedings against the accused persons of the department.