GEETA SESHAMANI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr. A. D. N. Rao, learned counsel, states that the Expert committee, constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to suggest possible solutions to the problems being faced by people due to increase in population of monkeys, langoors and stray dogs, held its first meeting on 1st january, 2004. The said Committee identified target animals as (i) Rhesus macaque - ownerless, (ii) stray cattle - owned, (iii) stray dog - ownerless and (iv) stray pig - owned.

(2.) The second meeting of the Expert Committee was held on 15th January, 2004 wherein the possible solutions to the problems of cattle, monkeys, dogs and pigs and the constraints likely to be faced were discussed in detail. The points that emerged in the meeting are contained in para (4) of the note that was placed before us by Mr. Rao.

(3.) In the third meeting that was held on 5th February, 2004, views were put up by representative of National Environmental Engineering Research institute, Nagpur (NEERI) , Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shimla and representative of M. C. D. , Delhi and Deputy Conservator of Forests, shimla. The action points as decided in the said meeting are contained in para 5 of the said note. The note also notices that in the next meeting, the wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun will make a presentation on various aspects of monkey menace and probable solutions.