Overview
- A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta halted further movement of spotted deer from A.N. Jha Deer Park and set aside Delhi High Court rulings that had allowed relocations.
- The order cites failures to follow Central Zoo Authority and IUCN protocols, including no genetic screening, tagging, veterinary certification, acclimatisation planning or post-release monitoring, leaving survival rates unknown.
- The Central Empowered Committee must count the herd, assess carrying capacity, inspect the Ramgarh Vishdhari and Mukundra Hills release sites, and file detailed reports within eight weeks with a science-based roadmap for any future translocation.
- The Delhi Development Authority is barred from leasing the park for commercial events and must explain a reported reduction of more than 20 acres in land designated for deer enclosures.
- Records show 261 deer have been moved to Rajasthan and nearly 400 remain in the enclosure, with transfers now paused pending the CEC review and a hearing listed for March 17, 2026.