Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday reminded the State Government and the Chief Wildlife Warden of the necessity to put into practice the decisions taken by them to protect the wildlife of the State.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice V.K. Bali and Justice S. Siri Jagan, observed that the court could only issue directives to implement the decisions if the powers-that-be did not have the political will to put them in practice.

Closing a writ petition filed by the Kochi-based Niyamavedi, the Bench expressed hope that the Government would implement the decisions with the seriousness it deserved. The petition sought a directive to the State Government and the Chief Wildlife Warden to implement the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act and also protect tigers and leopards, especially in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary and Silent Valley National Park.

The Government and the Wildlife Warden said that measures had been taken to mitigate major threats such as poaching, wildlife fire, and encroachment on the forestland and ganja cultivation in forests. The department also patrolled the sensitive areas regularly. The forest personnel had been provided with arms and ammunitions, they said. The petitioner alleged inaction on the part of the forest officials in effectively implementing the provisions of the Act.

Subsidy for pilgrimage

The Bench dismissed a writ petition seeking a directive to the Central Government to grant subsidy to Christians for undertaking pilgrimage to holy places in Israel and Palestine on the eve of Christmas and Easter on the lines of the Haj pilgrimage.

The Bench while dismissing the petition filed by Francis Albert, General Secretary of the Latheen Catholic Ayikyavedi, observed that the petitioner had not been able to convince the court that the Christians all over the world undertook any pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine on the eve of Christmas and Easter. The court was not satisfied that the petitioner could make out a case for relief on the ground of equality or otherwise.

Case diary

Justice V. Ramkumar has directed the prosecutor to produce the diary in the case relating to the rape of a girl from Adimali. The court issued the directive while admitting a bail petition filed by Shaji, the second accused in the case.