Green signal to Reliance Supported Zoo: Supreme Court rejects PIL

The Supreme Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the zoo being built by Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The court said that there is no logic or ground in the petition. The petitioner has filed the petition without any concrete reason and only on the basis of some news reports. A bench of Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Krishna Murari heard the matter.
The PIL had sought a ban on Reliance's Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (GZRRC) from bringing in animals from India and abroad. Along with this, the demand of SIT to investigate the operation and management of this non-profit organization was also placed before the court. Questions were also raised on the experience and capability of GZRRC.
After furnishing the detailed response of GZRRC, the Court heard the matter on 16 August 2022 and dismissed the petition seeking a stay. In the court, GZRRC gave information about its infrastructure, functioning, veterinarians, curators, biologists, zoologists and other experts. The Court observed that the GZRRC is fully complying with all the rules.
Earlier, the Madras High Court had also said that it was satisfied with the facilities available at Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, backed by Reliance Industries Limited. This zoo of Reliance Industries will be one of the largest zoos in the world in terms of the number and species of animals.
This zoo of Reliance, being built on about 300 acres, includes African Lion, Cheetah, Jaguar, Indian Wolf, Asiatic Lion, Pygmy Hippo, Orangutan, Lemur, Fishing Cat, Sloth Bear, Bengal Tiger, Malayan Tapir, Gorilla, Zebra, Giraffe, African There are expected to be animals like elephant and komodo dragon. The plan was approved in the 33rd meeting of the Central Zoo Authority.