In a packed courtroom that felt unusually tense for an environmental matter, the Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up multiple authorities over serious lapses in the shifting of hundreds of deer from Delhi’s A.N. Jha Deer Park. The bench, hearing the plea filed by New Delhi Nature Society, questioned why basic scientific protocols were ignored and directed a fresh, independent inspection before any more animals are moved.
Background
The Deer Park in Hauz Khas-popularly known as the “lungs of Delhi”-has been around since 1968 and once housed over 500 spotted deer. But over the last decade, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) repeatedly failed to meet the standards required for captive wildlife management. Its licence from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) expired in 2021, and instead of fixing long-standing gaps, the authorities decided to shift most deer to Rajasthan’s tiger reserves and a small portion to Asola.
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The petitioner society argued that the translocation violated CZA rules, the Wildlife Protection Act, and even international IUCN guidelines. They alleged that pregnant females, juveniles, and even antlered males were moved—categories explicitly barred from such transfers. The High Court earlier disposed of the petition based on DDA assurances, but the NGO later found that its counsel had consented without instructions.
Court’s Observations
During today’s hearing, the Supreme Court made it clear that the concerns were far too serious to be brushed aside. It noted that 261 deer had already been moved and early reports raised disturbing questions about survival rates, overcrowded transport vehicles, and release into predator-heavy areas.
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The bench observed, “If vulnerable deer were moved or deaths occurred due to negligence, it raises issues far deeper than administrative errors.”
Field observations submitted by the petitioner showed that at the release sites only a fraction of the claimed deer population was visible-60–62 instead of 100 at Ramgarh, and barely 52–53 instead of 161 at Mukundara Hills. With no tagging or microchipping, even the CZA team could not confirm how many survived.
The judges also took note of troubling visual evidence: skeletal remains, a rope tied around a deer bone, and reports that 40 deer plus a fawn were crammed into one truck during transport. The petitioner alleged that some deer may have been used as live bait in zones inhabited by tigers.
In a firm remark, the bench noted that translocation “cannot be a casual administrative exercise,” and reminded the authorities that laws and guidelines exist “to protect animals, not to offer paperwork justification after harm has occurred.”
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Decision
Signalling zero tolerance for procedural violations, the Supreme Court ordered a complete halt to any further deer translocation until an independent, scientific assessment is completed.
It directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to:
- Conduct a ground inspection of the Deer Park and determine the real number of remaining deer, the park’s carrying capacity, and how many animals, if any, can be scientifically retained.
- Visit both Rajasthan tiger reserves to verify the survival of translocated deer and assess habitat suitability, food availability, safety from predators, and compliance with CZA and IUCN norms.
- Prepare a comprehensive, science-backed roadmap for any future translocation, including tagging, transport standards, veterinary checks, and post-release monitoring.
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The Court also barred DDA from organising private or commercial events inside the ecological zone and demanded a full explanation for the unexplained reduction of enclosure land.
With that, the bench concluded its order, fixing 17 March 2026 for submission of the expert reports and further examination.
Case Title: New Delhi Nature Society vs Director Horticulture, DDA & Others
Petitioner: New Delhi Nature Society (NGO working on environment and conservation).
Respondents: DDA, Central Zoo Authority, forest authorities of Delhi & Rajasthan.
Next Hearing: 17 March 2026 (for CEC and DDA reports).
