Ranchi, March 26 The Jharkhand High Court expressed its displeasure on Thursday at the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) for failing to file an affidavit in a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the conservation of tigers in the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) in the state.
The high court ordered the PCCF to appear in person in the case on the next hearing date.
A division bench of Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Vikas Mahto regarding the conservation of tigers in the PTR.
The division bench observed that it appears that the PCCF has not reviewed the high court's orders and has not taken them seriously. The court ordered the PCCF to be present in person on the next hearing date and to address the court regarding his failure to file the affidavit.
An affidavit was filed by a subordinate of the PCCF, but the high court rejected it. The court noted that certain information was required after considering the suggestions made by the amicus curiae in the case, which were to be provided by the PCCF.
However, instead of an affidavit filed by the PCCF himself, a subordinate filed an affidavit, which was not accepted by the court.
The Palamau Tiger Reserve, established in 1974, has no record of the number of tigers increasing or any measures being taken to increase their population, the court had observed earlier while hearing the petition.
The high court has been monitoring the status of the PTR and has passed several orders to the government to ensure an increase in the number of tigers.
The PIL was filed by Mahto seeking directions for the maintenance of the Palamau Tiger Reserve.