MP High Court orders NTCA to detail tiger reserve funding for past 10 years
Synopsis
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has put the NTCA and the Union government on notice, demanding a decade's worth of tiger reserve funding data amid suspicious deaths at Kanha and fears of a Canine Distemper Virus outbreak. With vacancies in tiger reserves flagged as the biggest threat to wildlife protection, the court's intervention could force a reckoning on how India actually funds its most iconic conservation programme.
Key Takeaways
The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur has ordered the NTCA to furnish tiger reserve funding details for the past 10 years .
The order was passed on 20 August in a PIL concerning tiger conservation at Kanha Tiger Reserve and other protected areas.
The petition alleges inadequate government funding and large-scale unfilled vacancies in tiger reserves.
A possible Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infection linked to tiger deaths in April is also under scrutiny.
Booster doses have been administered to approximately 2,700 stray dogs near Kanha; vaccination of remaining animals is ongoing.
The next hearing is scheduled for the week of 21 September , with replies and updates on vaccination and staffing due by then.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur has directed the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to furnish a comprehensive account of funds disbursed to tiger reserves in the state over the past 10 years. The order, passed on 20 August in a public interest litigation concerning tiger conservation in national parks including Kanha Tiger Reserve, reflects the court's firm stance on recurring suspicious tiger deaths in protected areas across the state.
What the Court Has Ordered
A division bench of Justice Anand Pathak and Justice B.P. Sharma directed the Union of India and the Madhya Pradesh state government to take coordinated steps in line with Supreme Court guidelines involving the NTCA. The Additional Solicitor General, appearing for the Union of India, assured the bench that a detailed reply would be filed elaborating on conservation funds disbursed to the state and the budget allocations of the last decade.
The matter has been listed for the week commencing 21 September, by which time respondents are expected to file replies and update the court on vaccination progress and vacancy-filling measures at tiger reserves.
The Petition's Core Allegations
The petitioner has alleged that the government is not providing adequate funds to tiger reserves and that a significant number of posts within these reserves remain vacant. The petition also raises concerns over a possible Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infection linked to tiger deaths that occurred in April, seeking directions to prevent further spread of the disease.
Notably, the court observed that unfilled vacancies in tiger reserves were identified by the Supreme Court as the single biggest limiting factor in ensuring protection and scientific interventions for wildlife.
Vaccination Drive Under Way
Counsel for the state informed the court that the first dose of vaccination has been administered to all stray dogs living in the vicinity of Kanha Tiger Reserve. Booster doses have been given to approximately 2,700 stray dogs, with the remaining animals to be vaccinated shortly. The court has directed that necessary action be taken in an affirmative manner before the next date of hearing.
Supreme Court Precedent Invoked
The petitioner's counsel cited the landmark Supreme Court judgment in TN Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India and Others, which lays down comprehensive principles for the conservation and management of National Tiger Reserves. These directions encompass delineation of core and buffer areas, preparation of Tiger Conservation Plans, constitution of Steering Committees, adherence to NTCA tourism guidelines, human-wildlife conflict management, green infrastructure development, and regulation of religious tourism.
The High Court specifically noted paragraph 50.3.3 of the apex court judgment, which summarises key directions including the filling of vacancies. The bench observed that protection of flora and fauna is a matter of planetary interest, transcending ordinary public interest, and expected both the Central and state governments to work in unison on conservation, protection, and vaccination of wild cats.
What Comes Next
With the next hearing scheduled for the week of 21 September, the NTCA and state government face a deadline to provide financial transparency and demonstrate concrete steps on staffing and disease control. The outcome could set a significant precedent for accountability in tiger conservation funding across India's protected areas.
Point of View
But accountability for how it is spent — and whether posts are actually filled — has been largely absent. The invocation of the Godavarman judgment is significant; it signals that the court views this not as a routine administrative lapse but as a violation of binding Supreme Court directions. The CDV angle adds urgency, because disease transmission at the human-wildlife interface is precisely the kind of threat that understaffed reserves are least equipped to handle. If the NTCA's 10-year funding disclosure reveals gaps between allocations and actual disbursements, it could trigger a wider audit of tiger reserve governance nationally — not just in Madhya Pradesh.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Madhya Pradesh High Court summoned NTCA's funding details?
The court is examining allegations in a public interest litigation that the government has not provided adequate funds to tiger reserves and has left a large number of posts vacant. It ordered the NTCA to submit a 10-year funding account to assess whether conservation commitments have been met on the ground.
What is the Canine Distemper Virus concern raised in the petition?
The petition links suspicious tiger deaths at Kanha Tiger Reserve in April to a possible Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infection transmitted from stray dogs. The court has been monitoring a state-run vaccination drive targeting stray dogs in the vicinity of the reserve to prevent further spread.
What has the state government done about stray dog vaccination near Kanha?
The state government informed the court that all stray dogs near Kanha Tiger Reserve have received their first vaccine dose, and booster doses have been administered to approximately 2,700 stray dogs. Vaccination of the remaining animals is expected to be completed shortly.
Which Supreme Court judgment did the petitioner cite, and why does it matter?
The petitioner cited TN Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India and Others, a landmark ruling that sets comprehensive directions for managing National Tiger Reserves. The High Court specifically noted that the judgment identifies unfilled vacancies as the biggest limiting factor in wildlife protection — directly relevant to the allegations in this petition.
When is the next hearing, and what is expected by then?
The next hearing is scheduled for the week commencing 21 September. By that date, the NTCA and state government must file detailed replies on funding disbursements and update the court on vaccination progress and steps taken to fill vacancies at all levels in the tiger reserves.
