New Delhi — The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Jharkhand government to officially notify 31,468.25 hectares of the Saranda forest as a wildlife sanctuary, sharply criticizing the state for repeatedly changing its stance and delaying compliance.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai, along with Justice K. Vinod Chandran, issued the order, observing that the state “cannot run away from its constitutional duty” to protect the ecologically sensitive forest area.
The apex court noted that Jharkhand had earlier accepted that the entire 31,468.25-hectare region, which was first notified as the Saranda Game Sanctuary in 1968, was free from active mining and needed conservation. Yet, it later attempted to reduce the protected area to 24,941.64 hectares, prompting the court’s rebuke.
“We see no justification for the State to now reduce the area,” the Bench said, rejecting the revised proposal and directing the government to issue notification for the entire 31,468.25 hectares.
The court pointed out that multiple affidavits filed by the Jharkhand government confirmed that the 126 forest compartments covering the full area had no operational mines or diversions of forest land, leaving “no impediment” to declaring it a wildlife sanctuary.
Calling the state’s conduct “totally unfair,” the Supreme Court remarked that it had even summoned the Chief Secretary after finding the government in contempt of earlier directions.
Citing the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) report, the court said the Saranda region holds immense ecological, biodiversity, and geomorphological value, and deserves immediate statutory protection.
The judgment also referenced the Justice M.B. Shah Commission’s findings, which highlighted severe ecological damage caused by unregulated mining in the area, part of the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve.
Reiterating the government’s constitutional obligation under Articles 48A and 51A(g), the court said: “The State cannot evade its responsibility to declare the 31,468.25-hectare area as the Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary.”
The court clarified that community rights under the Wildlife (Protection) Act will remain intact. “The Collector, in consultation with the Chief Wild Life Warden, may permit the continuance of any traditional rights within the limits of the sanctuary,” it said.
The Saranda (Sasangda) forest, one of India’s richest sal forests, is renowned for its biodiversity and tribal communities. While the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified certain prospecting zones for future mining, the apex court’s order emphasizes conservation over exploitation.
With inputs from IANS