'Disturbing Animals After Lawful Import May Result In Cruelty' : Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Vantara

The Supreme Court recently dismissed a PIL alleging violations of international wildlife trade norms in the importation of animals by Vantata, noting that the issues raised were already rejected last year in another matter after an SIT inquiry found no foul play.

A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria refused to entertain the PIL filed by Karanartham Viramah Foundation under Article 32 of the Constitution, which relied on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Secretariat (CITES) document to allege irregularities in wildlife imports by two of Vantara's animal rehabilitation and welfare trusts, i.e., Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Center and Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust.

The petitioner had sought multiple directions, including, disclosure of records relating to import/export licences and CITES permits granted to private entities, constitution of an independent to verify compliance with CITES norms, initiation of proceedings under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, framing of a standard operating procedure for verification of CITES permits, and a temporary ban on further imports of certain species by private facilities.

The Court noted that the issue had already been examined in CR Jaya Sukin v. Union of India, 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 913, wherein a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Court conducted a detailed inquiry on the issue of acquisition of animals in Vantara, and its final report, accepted on September 15, 2025, found no violation of domestic or international law in acquisition of animals.

“Subject matter of the petition, in substance, is the same which was the subject matter of consideration in W.P.(C) No. 783 of 2025. Those matters stood examined by the SIT constituted by this Court and the final report of the SIT has been accepted by this Court on 15.09.2025. The same categorically records that no violation of any domestic or international law was found.”, the court observed.

Further, the Court held that once an import is carried out under valid statutory permissions, it cannot later be treated as prohibited merely because objections are raised subsequently.

“…once an import has been effected under the valid permission, the same cannot subsequently be treated as prohibited qua the importer merely because the objections were raised thereafter.”, the Court said, relying on East India Commercial Co. Ltd. v. Collector of Customs, 1962 AIR 1893, to observe that administrative approvals, once validly granted and acted upon, attain finality and cannot be casually undone.

It further cautioned that interfering with such lawful imports, particularly involving living or rescued animals by disturbing their settled environment, custody, and habitat, may itself amount to cruelty.

“More importantly, disturbing the settled environment, custody and air of living animals, including rescued animals after lawful import, may itself result in cruelty”, the court said.

The petition was dismissed accordingly.

Cause Title: KARANARTHAM VIRAMAH FOUNDATION VERSUS UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

Citation : 2026 LiveLaw (SC) 266

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Appearance:

For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Santosh Paul, Sr. Adv. Mr. Ankur Yadav, AOR

For Respondent(s) : None