Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to the elimination of man-eater tigress Avni (T-1). The court cited that all the prayers raised in the PIL had been previously addressed both by the High Court and the Supreme Court.
The case of Avni (T-1) tigress has been a matter of contention since June 2018 when the tigress was blamed for the deaths of 10 persons in the Pandharkawada Divisional Forest. Despite numerous attempts to tranquilise and capture the tigress, including efforts by the Forest Department and external sharpshooters, Avni remained elusive and posed a threat to human lives.
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Thursday 06 Feb. 2025
The PIL, filed by Earth Brigade, questioned the legality of the actions taken by the Forest Department and sought accountability for the decisions made during the operation to eliminate the tigress. However, the High Court’s decision to dismiss the PIL underlined the exhaustive legal scrutiny that the case has already undergone. The court’s ruling comes after a series of events, including failed attempts to capture Avni, legal challenges, and investigations into the operation.
Despite allegations of irregularities and concerns over the use of firearms, the court found no basis to continue the litigation and signaled a conclusion to this chapter of the Avni (T-1) tigress saga.
Justice Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri, presiding over the division bench on Wednesday delivered the order and dismissed the PIL.
Advocate Aadil Mirza, who along with advocate M Sharif represented respondent shooters Nawab Shafath Ali Khan and his son Asghar, said, “The PIL by Earth Brigade was dismissed today after considering all the prayers mentioned therein had already been placed before the court. The same prayers were taken up in the Supreme Court too previously.”
The PIL had prayed for setting up a SIT for re-investigating all evidence of “killing of T-1 tigress Avni” and re-examination of reports, among other pleas. The government declared Avni a man-eater after 10 kills. Shooters were invited to capture, or if necessary, eliminate the big cat. Advocate Mirza said, “The man-eater killed 14 humans before being eliminated by the shooters.”
Advocate Sejal Lakhani appeared for petitioners while advocate Kartik Shukul appeared as special counsel for state and forest department. Advocate M Sudame appeared for FDCM.
