The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the central government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on a petition alleging large-scale organised poaching of tigers in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and demanded that the matter be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran issued notices to the concerned authorities, asking them to file their replies within four weeks.
Plea alleges organised poaching network
The petition, filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, contends that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Maharashtra government had already unearthed an elaborate network of professional poachers, smugglers, and hawala operators responsible for the killing of tigers in both states.
According to the plea, the network traffics tiger skins, bones, and trophies across state lines and even outside India, pointing to a transnational wildlife crime syndicate.
“The SIT report and related investigations reveal that tigers are increasingly being killed outside the boundaries of protected areas, particularly in territorial forest divisions and corridors where surveillance is weak,” the petition states.
Tigers outside reserves at higher risk
Counsel Bansal told the court that over 30 per cent of India’s tiger population currently lives outside formally protected reserves. These tigers, often found in corridors and dispersal habitats, are more vulnerable to poachers due to inadequate monitoring.
The Wildlife Institute of India has already identified these areas as crucial for tiger movement, but the petition argues that they have become prime targets for organised poaching gangs.
Involvement of indigenous groups alleged
The plea further highlights that the trafficking network includes members of indigenous groups such as the Van Gujar community, who allegedly play a role in the organised poaching and trade of tiger body parts.
Bansal argued that given the scale and interstate nature of the syndicate, only a central agency like the CBI has the capacity to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation.
Court issues notices
Taking note of the submissions, the Supreme Court directed the Centre and NTCA to respond within four weeks. The court will hear the matter further after considering their replies.
Conclusion
The case underscores rising concerns over tiger conservation, particularly in non-protected forest areas where tigers are highly vulnerable to poachers. With India home to the largest tiger population in the world, the petition seeks to ensure stronger legal and investigative measures against organised wildlife crime syndicates.