Kerala HC directs Chief Wildlife Warden to permit farmers to hunt wild boars

Kerala High Court on Friday permitted farmers to hunt wild boars situated in ir farms. Directing Chief Wildlife Warden, court asked wildlife department to permit farmers to hunt. order was passed by Justice PB Suresh Kumar. case was heard on petitions of six farmers from Kozhikode, who sought directions to Central government to declare wild boars as vermin under Section 62 of Wildlife Protection Act. In its order, bench of Justice PB Suresh Kumar also directed Centre to comply with order within one month.

HC directs Kerala Chief Wildlife Warden to permit farmers to hunt wild boars

As reported by ANI, court in its order said, "So far as it is seen that properties of petitioners are under threat of attack of wild boars and in so far as stand of state government is that steps taken under Section 11(1)(b) of act to avert said menace did not yield any result and that only alternative to protect interests of farmers is to declare wild boars as vermin in specified areas in State, I deem it appropriate to pass an interim order directing Chief Wildlife Warden to permit petitioners to hunt wild boars in areas where ir agricultural lands are situated, as provided for in Section 11(1)(b) of Act. Ordered accordingly. direction aforesaid shall be complied with, within a month.”

Kerala HC directs Centre to declare Wild boars as vermins within one month

Kerala HC furr ded, "It is seen that having been convinced of grievance voiced by persons similarly placed like petitioners, during November 2020, state government has requested Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Government of India to declare wild boars as vermin in problematic areas of State. In terms of provisions of act, if wild boars are declared as vermin, y can be hunted by persons concerned to prevent damage to ir life and property. proposal of state government aforesaid was returned by ministry during December 2020 suggesting to make use of provisions contained in Section 11(1)(b) of act for purpose of averting menace, utilizing services of Panchayat Raj institutions."

petitioners h moved to court in November last year. As per m, y hold lands in Pathanamthitta, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts, which are some of problematic regions. Earlier, state government took up matter again with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to declare wild boars as vermin in problematic areas as or efforts taken by government didn’t work. central government is yet to respond to issue  

(With ANI Inputs)

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