SC says concerned over attacks on forest rangers, may order providing arms to them | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday expressed concern over attacks on forest rangers by armed poachers and smugglers, saying it may move orders providing fireplace arms, bullet proof vests and helmets to the officers to guarantee their security.
The bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde stated the forest officers are up towards the “bigger force and millions of dollars are being siphoned of by smuggling”.
“ED (Enforcement Directorate) should be roped in. It should have a separate wildlife wing. These are all proceeds of crime,” stated the bench which additionally comprised Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.
The high court docket was listening to interim purposes filed in a 25-12 months-previous PIL of one T N Godavarman Thirumulpad.
It took word of the submissions of senior advocate Shyam Divan that India accounts for 38 per cent of attacks on forest officers.
The senior lawyer referred to instances of assault on rangers in forests of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
“Brutal attacks are made on forest rangers. Even counter cases are lodged against them,” he stated.
“When we go to Assam, (we see) they are given arms while in Maharashtra they are given only ‘lathi’, ” the bench stated.
The bench stated it could move order on the problem after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Divan and lawyer A D N Rao make statements as to how these forest rangers may be be protected.
“We will direct that the officials are given arms, bullet proof vests and helmets. In Karnataka, forest officials are seen roaming in ‘chappals’ and are being slapped by poachers. We want Solicitor General to make statement on next date of hearing that arms will be given to personnel…,” the bench noticed on the outset.
The bench, in its order, recorded the submissions on attacks on forest rangers in numerous states and submitting of false instances as counter blast to deter them from doing their duties.
“It is difficult to comprehend as how forest officials are to be protected in vast tract of land where poachers take advantage to carry out the nefarious activities. It is difficult to manage how any law can be enforced by the forest officials who are unarmed in comparison to poachers who are heavily armed,” it stated.
The bench adjourned the listening to by 4 weeks and stated that it could move orders after taking word of the statements of the attorneys concerned.
During the listening to, it stated forest officers can’t even name for assist in misery within the forest when they’re attacked by poachers.
Like in a metropolis, police can name for assist, there must be some mechanisms, it stated.
“We need to check all these crimes. Last month I was in a forest in Maharashtra and have seen that forest officials were not even armed. How will they protect themselves when they are attacked. SG, we want you to explore all possibilities. These are sophisticated crimes which needs to be checked,” the CJI noticed.
Divan pointed to instances lodged towards forest officers and attacks in Rajasthan and Maharashtra, urging the bench to ask states to clarify as to what has been carried out in such cases.
“We will pass some orders. Population may not be much but area is much bigger than any city and town. States have to tighten the home department,” it stated.