Madras HC calls for explanation from special court for taking cognisance of wildlife offence
The Hindu
The case relates to the seizure of lion’s teeth and claws and deer horns, along with narcotic drugs, in Ramanathapuram district
The Madras High Court has called for an explanation from a special court for trying offences under the Essential Commodities Act, to explain how it took cognisance of a charge-sheet filed by the Narcotics Intelligence Bureau-Criminal Investigation Department (NIB-CID) against people who were found to be in possession of a lion’s teeth and claws and deer horns, along with narcotic drugs.
Justices V. Bharathidasan and N. Sathish Kumar directed the presiding officer of the special court in Pudukottai to submit his explanation by February 21. The direction was issued after advocate T. Lajapathi Roy, representing a writ petitioner, contended that the special court had no jurisdiction to take cognisance of the offences under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972.