Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.
Chhattisgarh High Court: In a suo motu writ petition registered regarding the reported fatal torture of a bear in a village, the Division Bench of Ramesh Sinha*, CJ., and Bibhu Datta Guru, J., disposed of the petition, directing that the State shall continue its vigilant efforts to prevent cruelty towards the wildlife and seriously view any such incidents of animal abuse. The Court also directed the Chief Conservator to ensure strict enforcement of the guidelines, policies, laws, or rules concerned and periodically sensitize officers and the public regarding animal welfare.
Background
The Court took cognizance based on a news report published in the India Today News App on 12-04-2025, wherein some villagers in the Sukma District tortured a bear to death. Allegedly, the viral video of the incident showed that the bear was tied to a wooden plank with a steel wire, while one person standing was pulling its ear with full force, and another was hitting the bear hard on its head with his hands, and some people were plucking the nails of the bear.
The Forest Department has ordered an inquiry into the matter and assured that strict action would be taken against the offenders. Thus, the Court vide its order dated 15-04-2025, had directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Chhattisgarh (‘Chief Conservator’), to file his personal affidavit on the aforesaid news report and the video footage which had gone viral.
Accordingly, the Chief conservator had filed a detailed affidavit showing that adequate measures were taken by the respondent authorities to prevent any recurrence of animal torture.
Analysis
The Court noted that, as per the State, no such incident was reported, and State authorities, especially of the Forest Department, were keeping a watch over the wildlife of the State to prevent any such untoward incident of animal abuse.
Noting the aforesaid, the Court disposed of the petition. The Court directed the State Government, particularly the Forest Department, to continue its vigilant efforts to prevent cruelty towards the wildlife. The Chief Conservator was directed to ensure strict enforcement of the guidelines, policies, laws, or rules concerned and periodically sensitize officers and the public regarding animal welfare. Any future incident of a similar nature shall be viewed seriously.
Lastly, the Court stated that if any such incident was brought to the Court’s notice in the future, then this case may be reopened or revived for appropriate directions.
[Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation v. State of Chhattisgarh, WPPIL No. 45 of 2025, decided on 29-10-2025]
*Judgment authored by: Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the respondent: Advocate General Prafull N Bharat and Additional Advocate General Y.S. Thakur