Jharkhand High Court Summons PCCF Over Palamu Tiger Reserve Conservation

Ranchi: Jharkhand high court on Thursday ordered the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) to appear before the court on the next date to explain why an affidavit was not filed pertaining to a PIL on conservation of tigers in Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR).A division bench of Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar, while hearing the PIL filed by Vikas Mahto, observed that it seems that the PCCF had not gone through the HC’s orders and not taken them seriously.The court rejected an affidavit filed by a subordinate. The court observed that certain information was required after recording the suggestions made by the amicus curiae in the case which were to be provided by the PCCF. Instead of filing it in the capacity of PCCF, it has been presented by a subordinate, which was not accepted.The PTR, formed in 1974, has no record of tiger numbers going up or steps being taken to increase their population, the court had observed earlier. The court has been monitoring the status of PTR and has passed several orders to ensure rise in the number of tigers.The petitioner had sought directions for the upkeep of PTR. Mahto claimed that the govt has not done enough and the number of tigers had not increased.