New Delhi, Sep 15 (NationPress) The Supreme Court on Monday acknowledged the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by retired apex court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar, which investigated various allegations, including claims of illegal wildlife transfers and the unlawful captivity of elephants, against the Vantara wildlife facility located in Gujarat's Jamnagar.

The SIT... opined and concluded that there is no violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009, CZA guidelines, Customs Act, 1962, Foreign Trade (Regulation and Development) Act, 1992, Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,” noted a Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale in its ruling.

Accepting the SIT report, the Justice Mithal-led Bench remarked: “The Court has no hesitation in accepting the conclusions drawn in the report. Therefore, as no breach of law has been reported by the SIT, the complaints, particularly those enumerated in Schedule A of the report summary, are hereby closed.”

The SIT investigation, according to the apex court, encompassed the “entire range of allegations not only concerning the acquisition of animals, smuggling, and laundering but also regarding welfare and husbandry, conservation, breeding, climatic and location issues, and financial and trade improprieties.”

Additionally, the court stated that the SIT's investigation involved coordination with various authorities, including the Central Zoo Authority, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, CITES Management Authority of India, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Customs Department, and local police.

Based on the SIT's report, the Justice Mithal-led Bench acknowledged that “the reception of animals by Vantara through rescue efforts and housing them in the rescue center for conservation and breeding programs has undergone a complex multi-layered/multi-jurisdictional approval process, procedures, and documentation.”

Moreover, it noted that animal imports at the Vantara wildlife facility were conducted strictly following valid permits and after clearance from various statutory bodies, stressing that once imports are fully documented and supported by permits, their validity cannot be contested.

“It is noteworthy that repeated investigations into Vantara's operations, prompted by numerous complaints and petitions over time, have consistently concluded with findings of no legal violations. Thus, there appears to be no merit in any allegations regarding animal smuggling or laundering,” the apex court stated.

Concerning the welfare standards for animal conservation at Vantara, the Supreme Court, relying on the SIT's evaluation, observed that the facility's mortality rates align with global zoological averages and that its care and management practices even surpass international standards.

“Upon reviewing the complete record, we are more than satisfied that the facilities at Vantara, in certain respects, exceed the prescribed standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care, and welfare, as well as the statutory benchmarks established by the Central Zoo Authority,” stated the Justice Mithal-led Bench.

“The periodic inspections by the Central Zoo Authority and the Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat, in conjunction with assessments by CITES, have further reinforced this conclusion. Therefore, the allegations regarding deficiencies in welfare standards are unfounded,” it added.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court noted that Vantara has been awarded the ‘Global Humane Certified Seal of Approval’, a significant recognition that provides independent validation of the facility’s animal welfare and conservation standards.

“The Deputy Director, Enforcement Directorate, from whom the SIT sought expert assistance, clarified that there is no infringement of the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The SIT dismissed the allegations and aspersions directed at the statutory authorities, the court-appointed high-power committee, and also the Courts,” the order stated.

The Justice Mithal-led Bench remarked that the Vantara wildlife facility has already undergone judicial scrutiny multiple times, with allegations against it largely being dismissed at every level. “Allowing a cycle of speculative complaints and petitions to continue despite such authoritative determinations would be wholly unjustified and amount to an abuse of the process,” the top court observed.

Recognizing the thorough investigation conducted by the SIT appointed by the Supreme Court, with support from central and state enforcement agencies, the Supreme Court concluded that the complaints and petitions, including those in newspaper reports, articles, and catalogues as stated in Schedule A of the summary, have been duly investigated and are hereby closed.

To bring finality to the matter, the Justice Mithal-led Bench ordered that no further complaints or proceedings based on the same set of allegations against Vantara will be entertained before any judicial, statutory, or administrative forum.

“We may leave it open for Vantara to pursue legal remedies for the removal of any defamatory publication or to take action against those responsible for disseminating misinformation,” the order clarified.

The SIT, which also included former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts Justice Raghvendra Chauhan, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, and senior IRS officer Anish Gupta, dismissed allegations of misuse of carbon credits, exploitation of water resources, or financial impropriety against Vantara.