SETHU VAIDYANATHAN Vs. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, (WILD LIFE) AND CHIEF OF WILD LIFE WARDENS, CHILDRENS PARK, MADRAS,

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition is filed inviting the direction of this court to take action against the illicit killing of peacocks, which is obviously barred by way of Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. It is reported in the petition that the petitioner is one of the members of the organisation known as People for Animals Trust, Madras and he had come to know that one Govindan caught peacocks by using traps and other contraptions for extracting oil from the mutilated flesh of such peacocks. The petitioner has also complained that he had written letters to the forest officials, but they did not move in the matter. The petitioner has also complained that the oil was being sold in the public places by killing peacocks in Usilampatti, Cumbum, Then and so on. By way of reply there is a counter filed that a detailed and discrete enquiry has been made by the forest department and it is found that all was well and that no peacocks were cut. However, again it is assured that the forest officers shall be vigilant and shall prevent any kind of activity in the areas reported by the petitioner. There is no further affidavit by the petitioner that there is a recurrence of such incidents now. Be that as it may, the court only deems it proper to direct the forest authorities to be more vigilant and to avert the illegal killing of peacocks. The court expresses hope that the national bird is preserved and protected. With this the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, W.M.P. No.1442/96 is closed.