Madhya Pradesh High Court Asks Authorities To Safeguard Tiger Reserves From Canine Distemper Outbreak
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has asked the State to keep vigilance in all tiger reserves and ensure that vaccination is provided for Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) to tigers as and when required.
The bench of Justice Anand Pathak and Justice BP Singh noted:
"Considering the submissions, it is expected that respondents shall rise to the occasion and will keep vigilance over all Tiger Reserves and whenever and wherever vaccination is required, said drive be undertaken so that the cat family be saved from onslaught of such natural/health calamities".
The court was hearing a PIL alleging that recent tiger deaths in Kanha tiger reserve raise serious concerns regarding compliance with statutory safeguards, disease-surveillance measures, and monitoring protocols prescribed under the NTCA framework.
The petition stated that a highly contagious viral disease affecting carnivores, CDV, was linked to the deaths. The petition noted that the NTCA had earlier warned the authorities over the dangers posed by the virus.
The petition claimed that the authorities lacked in implementing the statutory framework under the Wildlife Protection Act and the binding NTCA protocols. These lapses pertain to Phase IV monitoring, disease surveillance, veterinary services, and management of distressed tigers and cubs.
In the recent hearing, the State informed the court that 2000 tigers were vaccinated to prevent spearing of CDV. Further, it was claimed that the department was closely monitoring the tigers' movements.
The petitioner, however, referred to the judgment of T. N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India, passed by the Supreme Court, dealing with forest conservation and connected issues. The petitioner claimed that adequate staff needed to be posted at different national parks to care for the wildlife. Further, human resource development for tiger reserves is needed.
The petitioner, over the issue of funding, claimed that the Central Government has to disburse more funds to allocate maintenance of these reserves. The petitioner referred to all nine tiger reserves in the state, emphasising that it is a "Tiger State".
The counsel for the petitioner informed the court regarding compliance with the last order of planting 25 saplings in the new campus of the MP State Judicial Academy.
The bench granted time to the State to seek instructions regarding the implementation of measures following the Supreme Court directions. However, directed the State to provide vaccination when required to the tiger reserves.
The matter was listed for August 17, 2026.
Case Title: Subit Chakraborty v Union of India, WP 19398 of 2026
For Petitioner: Advocates Ansuman Singh and Prateek Rusia
For Union: Deputy Solicitor General SM Guru and Assistant Solicitor General Sunil Jain
For State: Additional Advocate General Janhvi Pandit