SC seeks Centre’s reply on PIL over organised tiger poaching

The Supreme Court on ‘Wednesday sought responses from the Centre, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and others on a PIL seeking a CBI probe into an alleged organised tiger-poaching and illegal wildlife-trade racket operating in states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

- AGENCIES

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a plea filed by lawyer Gaurav Kumar Bansal, highlighting the grave threat posed to the tiger population by organised poaching syndicates operating across state and national boundaries.

At the outset, Bansal said at least 30 per cent tigers are outside designated tiger reserves and referred to news reports of the large-scale poaching of the big cat.

“Issue notice,” the bench said and asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared in the court on behalf of the Centre and other authorities, to take instructions on the petition.