The Supreme Court has taken note of a special investigation team’s findings on Vantara, the zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The SIT, appointed by the court itself, gave the facility a clean chit, stating that compliance and regulatory measures were being followed to the authorities’ satisfaction.
SIT Formation and Mandate
The four-member SIT, led by a former Supreme Court judge, was set up on August 25. Its task was to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into allegations that Vantara had violated wildlife laws and improperly acquired animals, including elephants, both from within India and abroad.
Court Proceedings
The SIT submitted its report on Friday, and a bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and P B Varale reviewed it on Monday. The bench recorded the findings and noted the authorities’ satisfaction. The court said it would issue a detailed order later in the day after fully examining the report.
Origin of the Case
The inquiry stemmed from two public interest litigations (PILs) that cited media articles, social media posts, and complaints from NGOs and wildlife groups about alleged irregularities at Vantara.
Earlier, on August 14, the Supreme Court had dismissed parts of the case as vague. This included a plea by petitioner C R Jaya Sukin, who had asked for a monitoring committee to oversee the return of captive elephants to their previous owners.
