On 3rd December, based on Newspaper report the Calcutta High Court has took suo moto cognizance of the illegal trade of endangered birds species during winter season.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, sale, purchase or keeping in captivity of Indian Birds are illegal. But, the trade of exotic bird species not indigenous to the country is not banned; the court has observed.
The matter was came up by a divisional bench of Chief Justice T.B.Radhakrishnan comprising with Justice Arijit Banerjee; where it was informed that endangered birds like Tia, Moyna, Chandana and Pahari Moyna are smuggled from North Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and are traded in Kolkata and Delhi, especially during winter.
While hearing the Court read;
“The migrating birds know no territorial limits and they
would fly to better pastures depending upon the change of
climate, availability of food and various other reasons including for their existence, procreation etc. This is part of the ecological management of the universe. We, therefore, deem it appropriate to further consider this matter because it has become necessary and expedient to initiate public interest litigation suo motu concerning
smuggling and illegal trading of endangered species of birds and for their preservation and protection,”
Further, the Court directed all the officers related to forests and conservation of Wildlife be impleaded as respondents in the proceedings.
Therefore, the matter has been listed for early hearing on December 8.
