1 2025:CGHC:52675-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPPIL No. 45 of 2025 In The Matter Of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation, Regarding Nails Plucked, Mouth Broken, Villagers Torture Bear To Death In Chhattisgarh, Based On News Item Published In India Today News App, Dated 12 April, 2025. ... Petitioner(s) versus 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Chief Secretary, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur (C.G.) 2 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through Additional Chief Secretary, Forest And Climate Change, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur (C.G.) 3 - Principal Chief Conservator Of Forest Cum Chief Wild Life Warden Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur (C.G.) 4 - Chief Conservator Of Forest Jagdalpur, District - Bastar (C.G.) 5 - Collector Sukma, District - Sukma (C.G.) 6 - Superintendent Of Police Sukma, District - Sukma (C.G.) 7 - Divisional Forest O7cer Sukma, District - Sukma (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) For Petitioner(s) : None. For Respondent(s)/ State : Mr. Prafull N Bharat, Advocate General assisted by Mr. Y.S.Thakur, Additional Advocate General 2 Hon’ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon’ble Mr. Bibhu Datta Guru, Judge Order on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice 29/10/2025 1 This is an o7ce reference. 2 Heard Mr. Prafull N. Bharat, learned Advocate General assisted by Mr. Y.S.Thakur, learned Additional Advocate General for the State/ respondents. 3 This suo moto public interest litigation was registered on the basis of a news item published in “India Today News App”, dated 12.04.2025 with a heading ‘Nails Plucked, mouth broken: Villagers torture bear to death in Chhattisgarh”. The said news related to the Sukma District of the State where villagers were alleged to have tortured a bear to death. The said news stated that a video went viral on social media. The Forest Department also ordered an enquiry into the matter and assured of taking strict action against the o?enders. The said video showed the bear tied to a wooden plank with a steel wire while a person standing beside the bear were seen pulling its ear with full force. Another person could be seen hitting the bear hard on its head with his hands. Some persons were seen plucking the nails of the bear because of which the bear had to su?er immense pain. As such, this Court had directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Chhattisgarh, to @le his personal a7davit on the aforesaid news report and the video footage which had gone viral. 4 In pursuance of the order dated 15.04.2025, a detailed a7davit was @led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden, 3 Government of Chhattisgarh, of which this Court had taken note of in its order dated 29.04.2025 which showed that adequate measures were taken by the respondent authorities so as to prevent any recurrence of animal torture. 5 Thereafter, the matter was listed on 14.07.2025 and 09.09.2025 wherein the learned State counsel had informed this Court that no such incident has been reported and the matter was directed to be listed today. 6 Mr. Bharat, learned Advocate General submits that till date, no such activity of animal cruelty has been reported and the authorities of the State, especially of the Forest Department are keeping a watch over the wildlife of the State so as to prevent any such untoward incident of animal abuse. 7 In view of the submissions made and the measures taken by the State authorities, this suo moto petition stands disposed of. However, we direct the State Government, particularly the Forest Department, to continue its vigilant e?orts to prevent cruelty to wildlife. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests shall ensure strict enforcement of the guidelines / policies / laws / rules and shall periodically sensitize o7cers and the public regarding animal welfare. Any future incident of similar nature shall be viewed seriously. If any future incident of similar nature is brought to the Court’s notice, the matter may be reopened or revived for appropriate directions. Sd/- Sd/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) (Ramesh Sinha) JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE Brijmohan / Amit AMIT KUMAR DUBEY Digitally signed by AMIT KUMAR DUBEY Date: 2025.10.29 20:40:13 +0530