Terming the unchecked rise in population of monkeys as an emergency situation, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to look into the feasibility of importing vaccine of immune-contraception to control their numbers in the Capital.
A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar gave the direction while hearing an 18-year-old case to curb monkey menace in the city.
Noting that the problem was not restricted to Delhi alone, the Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain to personally look into the issue to ensure funds for acquiring vaccine from abroad on an “emergency basis”.
The court remarked that many of the 20,000 simians relocated to Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary near Tughlakabad here had escaped to surrounding areas, leading to complaints from the residents.
Development of vaccine
The National Institute of Immunology (NII) had told the court that development of vaccine of immune-contraception will take about five years and another two years were needed for trials. At this, the Bench remarked that the scenario will worsen as monkeys continue to procreate.
In March 2007, the court had recorded the problems of monkeys carrying several communicable diseases, including tuberculosis. While immune-contraception vaccines are used extensively in other countries, the court was told that import of the vaccine was expensive and may not be financially viable.
Advocate Meera Bhatia, representing New Friends Colony residents in the case, said the authorities had failed to act on increasing incidents of monkey menace in the Capital.
The Bench, which has been monitoring progress made to ensure a proper place for survival of monkeys, posted the case for hearing on February 2.
