NEW DELHI: Acting on PILs, the Supreme Court has set up a special investigation team headed by former top court judge Justice J Chelameswar for an independent factual appraisal of the allegations, including violation of rules in procurement of animals for Anant Ambani's Vantara alias Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jamnagar, Gujarat.
A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale, which formed the SIT, however, clarified that the panel has been permitted only to assist the court as a fact finding inquiry so as to ascertain the true factual position and to enable the court to pass any further order.
On PILs filed by advocate C R Jaya Sukin and another, the court asked the SIT to conduct the fact finding inquiry entrusted to it forthwith and submit the report, uninfluenced by any observations, by September 12, 2025.
The SIT would be led by Justice Chelameswar as chairman and Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Court, Hemant Nagrale, IPS, and former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai and Anish Gupta, IRS, Addl Commissioner Customs as members.
The petitioners made the allegations of unlawful acquisition of animals from India and abroad, mistreatment of the animals in captivity, financial irregularities, money laundering etc. They also cast aspersions upon statutory authorities such as Central Zoo Authority, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as well as courts.
The court noted these petitions are only allegations with no material of probative worth.
"There appears to be no supporting material. Considering the sweep of the allegations made in the petitions inviting a counter from the private respondent or any other party will not serve much purpose. Ordinarily, a petition resting on such unsupported allegations does not deserve in law to be entertained rather warrant dismissal in limine," the bench said.
However, the bench said, in the wake of the allegations that the statutory authorities or the courts are either unwilling or incapable of discharging their mandate, more particularly in the absence of verification of correctness of the factual situation, "we consider it appropriate in the ends of justice to call for an independent factual appraisal which may establish the violation, as alleged, if any."
The court directed for constitution of a SIT of "respectable persons of impeccable integrity and high repute having long public service".
The bench directed the SIT to examine and submit report on acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants; compliance of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and rules for zoos made thereunder; International Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) and compliance with import/export laws and other statutory requirements concerning imports/exports of live animals; compliance with standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care, standards of animal welfare, mortalities and causes thereof.
It also asked the SIT to look into complaints regarding climatic conditions and allegations concerning location near an industrial zone; complaints regarding creation of a vanity or private collection, breeding, conservation programs and use of biodiversity resources; complaints regarding misutilisation of water and carbon credits; complaints regarding allegations of breach of different provisions of law, trade in animals or animal articles, wildlife smuggling etc as made in the articles/stories/complaints referred to in the petitions as well as generally.
It also asked the SIT to look into complaints regarding issues of financial compliance, money laundering etc, complaints regarding any other subject, issue or matter germane to the allegations made in these petitions.
