Supreme Court Stops Deer Translocation From Delhi's AN Jha Deer Park, Orders Probe Into Negligence By DDA

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (November 26) stopped the translocation of spotted deer from Delhi's A.N. Jha Deer Park to Rajasthan, after finding a 'distressing pattern of negligence' on the Delhi Development Authority's (“DDA”) part while translocating deers.

“It is evident from the record that the translocation protocol and best practices incorporated in the guidelines issued by the Central Zoo Authority and IUCN Guidelines were not adhered to during the translocation of deer from Deer Park to Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in the State of Rajasthan. There is no documentary evidence of pre-translocation genetic screening, tagging, tranquilisation protocols, veterinary fitness certification, or behavioural acclimatisation, all of which are internationally recognised preconditions for release.”, observed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta flagging the concern of the survival of the deer's during the translocation process as “no tracking mechanisms such as telemetry collars, radio chips, or post-release surveys were done to monitor the well-being or survival of the released animals.”

The Court set aside the Delhi High Court's ruling which refused to interfere with the DDA's chronic mismanagement in the functioning of the AN Jha Deer Park, appointing Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct an independent, on-ground assessment covering, actual population at Deer Park, its ecological carrying capacity, survival status of deer already shifted to Rajasthan, and a scientific, welfare-compliant roadmap for any future relocation.

Further, the Court asked the DDA to explain, within eight weeks, the reduction in the AN Jha Deer Park area and to stop leasing the park for commercial events from now onwards.

To ensure that the welfare of the deer population is secured in accordance with the statutory framework prevailing in India and internationally accepted conservation guidelines/norms, the judgment authored by Justice Mehta issued the following directions:

A. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) shall conduct an on-ground survey of A.N. Jha Deer Park and file a detailed report before this Court within eight weeks. The report shall specifically enumerate:

i. the present population of deer in the Deer Park;

ii. the ecological carrying capacity of the Deer Park, based on space, fodder availability, veterinary infrastructure, and enclosure design;

iii. the maximum number of deer that can be sustainably and humanely maintained at the Deer Park; and

iv. the surplus population, if any, that must be considered for translocation.

B. The CEC shall further undertake an inspection of the release sites, i.e., Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in the State of Rajasthan and file a status report within eight weeks. The report shall specifically enumerate:

i. the number of deer actually present and surviving;

ii. habitat suitability, availability of forage and water, predation risks, and mitigation measures;

iii. veterinary monitoring mechanisms and post-release protocols; iv. compliance with guidelines issued by the Central Zoo Authority and the IUCN Guidelines.

C. The CEC shall also prepare a comprehensive roadmap for any future translocation, detailing the scientific methodology, identification and tagging processes, procedural safeguards, transportation protocols, veterinary requirements, ecological feasibility studies, and post-release monitoring framework, in strict conformity with the domestic statutory regime and IUCN Guidelines.

D. All concerned authorities shall extend full cooperation to the CEC, ensuring timely support, information sharing, and access to necessary sites, required for implementing these directions. Any failure or delay in compliance shall invite appropriate action.

E. The DDA shall, within eight weeks, place on record a comprehensive report detailing the past and present status of land formerly designated for deer enclosures, including the unexplained reduction of more than 20 acres reported in the Evaluation Reports.

F. The DDA is directed to refrain from organizing, permitting, or facilitating any commercial events, private parties, or non-conservation related gatherings within the premises of the A.N. Jha Deer Park or its surrounding ecological buffer zones. The use of the said park for such purposes is inconsistent with its designation as an urban ecological zone and captive animal enclosure. Instead, DDA may develop and implement a non-commercial public outreach programme, which shall include periodic educational visits for school and college students, guided nature walks in collaboration with recognized environmental NGOs, and biodiversity awareness campaigns, in order to foster a culture of ecological sensitivity and civic participation in conservation efforts.

G. Until further orders of this Court, no additional translocation of deer from A.N. Jha Deer Park shall be carried out by the respondents or any other authority.

The Court concluded that "wildlife management cannot be approached as a matter of administrative convenience." It must be "anchored in scientific assessment, ecological prudence, and fidelity to constitutional values," including the protection of the environment under Article 21 of the Constitution.

“The deer population at the Deer Park is a reminder that conservation is not merely the relocation of animals but an exercise in stewardship: preserving species, habitats, and the environmental ethos enshrined in our constitutional framework. The Court's intervention is therefore guided by the imperative that decisions affecting wildlife must reinforce the principles of dignity, ecological integrity, and intergenerational equity that lie at the heart of this Court's environmental jurisprudence.”, the court observed.

The court directed the listing of the matter next on 17th March, 2026, for receiving the Central Empowered Committee and the DDA report.

Cause Title: NEW DELHI NATURE SOCIETY THROUGH VERHAEN KHANNA VERSUS DIRECTOR HOTRICULTURE DDA & ORS.

Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 1145

Click here to download order

Appearance:

For Petitioner(s) : Ms. Rukhsana Choudhury, AOR Ms. Amita Singh, Adv. Ms. Shumaila, Adv.

For Respondent(s) : Ms. Aishwariya Bhati, A.S.G. Ms. Shrey Jain, Adv. Mr. Jagdish Chandra Solanki, Adv. Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Sr. Adv. Mr. Piyush Beriwal, Adv. Ms. Chitrangda Rastravara, Adv. Mr. Pratyush Srivastava, Adv. Ms. Ritika Singhal, Adv. Ms. Ritika Prasad, Adv. Mr. Nitin Mishra, AOR Ms. Mitali Gupta, Adv. Mr. Hargun Singh Kalra, Adv.