Guwahati: The Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre Society (GZRRC), which has the support of Reliance Industries Limited, is building a zoo at Jamnagar in Gujarat. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging various parts of the zoo was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
An activist who opposed the creation of the zoo submitted the petition. Additionally, he asked for a SIT to look into the GZRRC’s management and operations, as well as a ban on the GZRRC purchasing any more animals from India or overseas. In the Petition, it was questioned whether animals were transported to GZRRC from within India and abroad. Concerns about the rehabilitation center’s expertise and capacity were also highlighted in the PIL.
After GZRRC provided its thorough response, the Court took the matter under consideration on August 16, 2022, and rejected the Petition after dismissing all claims made against GZRRC.
Mr. Dhanraj Nathwani, Head of Organization, GZRRC said, “We at GZRRC are humbled by the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. We will continue with our work for animal welfare. GZRRC is committed to the welfare, rescue, rehabilitation and conservation of animals as well as to provide world class rehabilitation care to animals which need to be rescued from difficult conditions.”
The Court took note of GZRRC’s representations regarding its infrastructure, operation, and the veterinarians, curators, biologists, zoologists, and other professionals it had hired, as well as the fact that it was conducting its operations fully in accordance with the law.
The GZRRC made it clear in court that while it would be establishing a zoological park that would be accessible to the public and primarily be used for educational purposes, the other facilities would function as rescue centres for the welfare of animals in need of rescue from not only India but from all over the world with the goal of animal welfare, rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation.
The Court noted its satisfaction with the GZRRC’s response and stated that it was pleased that the authority given to GZRRC for its operations, the transfer of animals to it, and its related activities was valid and allowed by law.
It was further noted that while the Court found “no infirmity” in the authorities issuing GZRRC licences and approvals, despite the claims against GZRRC being only loosely based on press reports. The Court also accepted GZRRC’s claim that it is a nonprofit organisation with a focus on animal welfare and that any income it may receive will only be used for doing rescue operations.
When it came to the accusations made against GZRRC, the Court declared that it had not discovered “any logic or basis.” The Court additionally stated that there is “barely any scope” to question how GZRRC operates and that it “could not discover any legal defect” with GZRRC.