The Supreme Court recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that alleged violations of international wildlife trade rules in the import of animals by Vantara. The court said that the same issue had already been examined earlier and found to have no wrongdoing.
On 9th March, a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria refused to entertain the PIL filed by the Karanartham Viramah Foundation under Article 32 of the Constitution.
Court says issue already examined
The petition had raised concerns based on documents linked to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, claiming there were irregularities in the way animals were imported by Vantara’s two trusts, Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust.
However, the court pointed out that a similar matter had already been looked into in an earlier case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the court had carried out a detailed probe into how the animals were acquired.
Quoting its earlier findings, the bench said, “Subject matter of the petition, in substance, is the same which was the subject matter of consideration… The final report of the SIT has been accepted by this Court… The same categorically records that no violation of any domestic or international law was found.”
No action needed after valid permission
The court also made it clear that once animals are imported legally with proper permissions, those imports cannot be questioned later just because someone raises objections.
It observed, “…once an import has been effected under the valid permission, the same cannot subsequently be treated as prohibited… merely because the objections were raised thereafter.”
The bench referred to an earlier judgment to stress that permissions given by authorities, once properly granted and acted upon, cannot be easily reversed.
The court also raised an important point about animal welfare. It said that interfering with animals after they have already been relocated and settled could actually harm them.
“More importantly, disturbing the settled environment, custody and air of living animals… may itself result in cruelty,” the court noted.
Relief for Vantara trusts
With this decision, the court has effectively closed the matter for now, giving relief to Vantara and its associated trusts. The ruling also makes it clear that repeated petitions on already-settled issues may not be entertained, especially when a detailed investigation has already found no violation.
