New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a writ petition seeking directions regarding alleged violations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in relation to the import of live animals by Vantara and associated facilities, holding that the subject matter had already been examined by a Special Investigation Team constituted by the Court, whose final report had been accepted, and that the CITES Secretariat document relied upon by the petitioner itself recorded no evidence of irregular imports.
A Bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria, while hearing Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1113 of 2025 filed by Karanartham Viramah Foundation on March 9, 2026, dismissed the petition and closed all pending applications.
The petition had been filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking, among other reliefs, a direction to the Union of India and other respondents to place before the Court all records pertaining to permissions, recognitions, and import and export licences granted to Respondent Nos. 5 and 6, namely Vantara and its associated entities, since 2019, along with all CITES permits relied upon, internal evaluations, minutes of the Central Zoo Authority, and correspondence exchanged with the CITES Secretariat or foreign Management Authorities.
The petitioner had also sought the constitution of an Independent National Wildlife Trade Compliance Monitoring Committee chaired by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court to verify the legality and authenticity of all CITES import, export, and re-export permits connected to Vantara and associated entities; directions to initiate proceedings under Sections 38H(6), 38I, and 51 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, including suspension or cancellation of zoo recognition; directions to formulate a Standard Operating Procedure for due diligence and verification of CITES permits; and a direction that no further imports or acquisitions of live animals listed under Appendix I of the CITES Convention be permitted by any private zoo, trust, or facility, including Vantara, until an independent committee submitted its verification report.
The Court noted that the subject matter of the petition was, in substance, the same as that which had already been considered in W.P.(C) No. 783 of 2025, which had been examined by an SIT constituted by the Court in relation to Vantara. The final report of the SIT had been accepted by the Court on September 15, 2025, and categorically recorded that no violation of any domestic or international law had been found.
The Court further noted that the CITES Secretariat document bearing SC79 Doc. 6.3.4, relied upon by the petitioner, did not assist the petitioner’s case and, in fact, recorded on its face that the CITES Secretariat had found no evidence that the animals had been imported without the requisite CITES documentation or import permits, and no evidence that such imports were for commercial purposes. The Court held that this conclusion was in consonance with the findings recorded by the SIT and accepted by the Court.
The Court also held that once an import has been effected under valid permission, it cannot subsequently be treated as prohibited qua the importer merely because objections were raised thereafter. The Court referred to the principles enunciated in East India Commercial Co. Ltd. v. The Collector of Customs, 1962 AIR 1893, and further noted that disturbing the settled environment, custody, and living conditions of animals, including rescued animals, after lawful import by Vantara, might itself result in cruelty. The petition was accordingly dismissed.
Case Details:
- Case Title: Karanartham Viramah Foundation v. Union of India and Others
- Case Number: Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1113 of 2025
- Court: Supreme Court of India
- Coram: Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria
- Date of Order: March 9, 2026
- Senior Advocate for Petitioner: Mr. Santosh Paul
- AOR for Petitioner: Mr. Ankur Yadav
