Alok Singh
On December 11, 2024 (Wednesday) the Supreme Court formed a committee including the District Collector of Sariska, the Field Director of Project Tiger, and a member of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to address the issue of car access for devotees visiting the Pandupol Hanuman temple, which is located within Rajasthan’s Sariska Tiger Reserve.
The Hanuman Temple Committee approached the Court, seeking the relaxation of restrictions proposed for the entry of private vehicles to the tiger reserve allowing regulated access for devotees to perform rituals at the temple.
A Bench compromising Justices BR Gavai, Sandeep Mehta, and SVN Bhatti observed that the sentiments of temple devotees are equally essential to be considered. The committee has been assigned the responsibility of formulating a gradual and balanced solution, giving due consideration to both environmental issues and the religious feelings of the devotees.
“While protecting tiger reserve and sanctuary, the sentiments of the devotees who visit the temple should also be given due consideration. It is the concern of the trust and the devotees that immediate stopping of private vehicles will lead to depriving the thousands of devotees who come on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It is also concern that there is a belief among devotees that Prasad has to be offered on fulfilment of prayers,” The Bench observed.
Last year, the Court considered a suo motu writ petition filed concerning the Sariska Tiger Reserve. This petition is being heard as part of a series of environmental cases under the matter of In Re: TN Godavarman Thirumalpad.
The recommendation from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court, as a part of the report submitted on July 22, called for a ‘complete prohibition’ on private vehicles by March 2025 to safeguard tigers and their habitats within the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) and mitigate vehicular traffic’s adverse impacts, as the unregulated movement of vehicles has raised concerns about the degradation of tiger habitats and wildlife safety.
This CEC has proposed introducing electric shuttle buses as an alternative to private vehicles. Additionally, it suggested exploring other transportation options such as tramways, elevated roads, motorable twin tunnels, or ropeways, based on feasibility studies. In the same line, during a hearing in April last year, Amicus Curiae K Parameswar also had earlier suggested that such an electric bus service could be introduced for temple devotees.
During today’s hearing, the Court noted that the State has agreed to accept most of the CEC’s suggestions except for a few. However, it also observed that the deadlines suggested by the CEC for implementing these recommendations could be more practical, mainly since some deadlines are already over. Hence, further extension has been provided by the Court to meet the deadlines.
Case Name:- In Re: TN Godavarman Thirumalpad (Sariska Tiger Reserve and Pandupol Hanuman Temple Access Issue)
Bench:– Justices BR Gavai, Sandeep Mehta, and SVN Bhatti