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Supreme Court Names SIT to Probe Vantara, Sets Sept. 12 Report Deadline

The move seeks a neutral appraisal of complaints without prejudging the facility, with findings to guide any further court action.

The Supreme Court said the order only sought a fact-finding inquiry to ascertain the true factual position to enable the court to pass further orders
Vantara is spread over 3000 acres within the Green Belt of Reliance's Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Gujarat. It aims to be one of the leading contributors to conservation efforts globally. 
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Supreme Court

Overview

  • The four-member panel is led by retired Supreme Court judge Jasti Chelameswar, joined by Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Mumbai police chief Hemant Nagrale and customs official Anish Gupta.
  • The mandate covers how animals, especially elephants, were acquired from India and abroad for compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, zoo rules, CITES and import/export laws.
  • The team will assess husbandry, veterinary care, welfare standards and mortalities, and examine climatic suitability and the centre’s proximity to an industrial zone.
  • It will also examine allegations about vanity collections, conservation claims and biodiversity use, misuse of water and carbon credits, wildlife trade breaches and financial issues including money laundering.
  • Regulators including the Central Zoo Authority, the CITES authority, the environment ministry and Gujarat’s forest and police departments were directed to cooperate, with the case listed for September 15 after the report is filed.