“No experts in Cheetah Task Force,” Supreme Court agrees to hear expert committee’s plea
The hope of India to revive the cheetah population suffered a setback as a four-and-a-half-year-old female cheetah ‘Sasha’ died on 27 March 2023 due to renal failure. This occurred only after her translocation, not less than a year ago, to the Kuno National Park in Sheopur and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh from Namibia, along with seven other cheetahs. One day after Sasha’s death, the absence of experts in the Cheetah Task Force was highlighted before the Supreme Court of India. Also, this incident casts light on the Centre’s ambitious Cheetah reintroduction project. While addressing the matter before the top Court bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice BR Gavai, Senior Advocate Prashanto Chandra Sen affirmed that the task force appointed by the Environment Ministry “did not have a single member with expertise in cheetah management.” The bench further directed, “We request the learned Additional Solicitor General to place on record the details, on an affidavit, with regard to the qualification and experience of the members of the task force and also specify as to which of the members possess an expertise in cheetah management within two weeks.”
The bench was hearing the plea filed by an expert committee seeking to guide and direct the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) regarding India’a ambitious cheetah reintroduction program. This expert committee was constituted by the Supreme Court of India in 2020. Senior Advocate Sen was representing the expert committee in this case. During the hearing, Advocate Sen said, “This is a matter of international prestige. The cheetahs have brought and now, must be properly settled and looked after. Globally, this is the biggest translocation of cheetahs on such a large scale.” He also added, “Our only submission is the government should have some humility to learn from the experts.” Further Additional Solicitor General highlighted the government’s action plan for the introduction of Cheetahs in India which was prepared in consultation with forest officers, cheetah experts, veterinarians, and scientists from Namibia, the United States of America, India, and others. On hearing this, Advocate Sen replied, “I don’t know about this application but the task force notified by the government has no experts. As per my instructions, none of them has any idea about cheetahs.”
After hearing the submissions, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the matter after two weeks. The bench also directed the Centre to submit details regarding the experience and qualification of the task force members appointed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Also, ordered them to specify those members who have expertise in Cheetah management.
Also Read: Supreme Court Updates
