On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to carry out an independent fact-finding inquiry into allegations levelled against Vantara, the Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. The step comes in response to two public interest litigations (PILs) raising concerns about alleged irregularities in the acquisition of animals, particularly elephants, from within India and abroad, and purported violations of statutory mandates governing wildlife protection and conservation.
A Bench comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice P.B. Varale, while constituting the SIT, emphasised that ordinarily, petitions resting on unsupported allegations do not warrant judicial intervention and are liable for dismissal. However, given the wide sweep of accusations and assertions of regulatory inaction, the Court deemed it necessary “in the ends of justice to call for an independent factual appraisal which may establish the violation, as alleged, if any.”
The four-member SIT will be chaired by Justice Chelameswar, former judge of the Supreme Court. The other members include Justice Raghavendra Chauhan (former Chief Justice of the High Courts of Uttarakhand and Telangana), former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, and former IRS officer Anish Gupta.
The Court clarified that the SIT’s mandate is limited to assisting the judiciary with an objective factual record and does not reflect any judicial finding against Vantara or the statutory authorities. “It is clarified that the above exercise undertaken by the SIT 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,” the Bench observed.
The SIT’s mandate covers a wide array of issues, including the acquisition and transfer of animals under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, compliance with zoo regulations and international commitments under CITES, and adherence to prescribed standards of animal welfare and veterinary care. It will also assess mortality rates, the impact of climatic conditions, and the suitability of operating the facility in proximity to an industrial zone. In addition, the SIT has been tasked with examining concerns relating to conservation programmes, allegations of the establishment of a vanity collection, instances of suspected wildlife trafficking, as well as potential contraventions of financial and anti-money laundering laws.
The Court authorised the SIT to seek information not only from statutory authorities but also from petitioners, NGOs, regulators, intervenors, and even journalists who may wish their allegations to be scrutinised. The team has been directed to commence the inquiry forthwith and submit its report by September 12, 2025. The petitions will be taken up on September 15 for consideration of the SIT’s findings.
The development follows earlier proceedings in which the Court had described one of the petitions as “completely vague,” questioning the petitioner’s failure to substantiate allegations while nonetheless seeking drastic relief, including the return of elephants to temple owners and the release of all captive animals into the wild.
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