The Hindu : Karnataka News : Probe ordered into raid on NGO

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 02, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Probe ordered into raid on NGO

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MAY 1. The Kudremukh Wildlife Foundation (KWF), which was raided by the Forest Department officials a fortnight ago, has been given a reprieve by the Central Empowered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court.

In a parallel development, the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, has responded to appeals by prominent personalities such as the wildlife scientist K. Ullas Karanth and the litterateur U.R. Ananthamurthy and ordered an inquiry into the episode (raid). The Principal Secretary (Forests) is likely to conduct the inquiry and submit a report, official sources told The Hindu .

The raid on the KWF offices and the treatment meted out to its head, Niren Jain, has dismayed wildlife and conservation activists and is being seen as a blow to voluntary efforts in conservation and protection of national parks and wildlife habitats. As D.V. Girish of the Chikmagalur-based Nature Conservation Guild said, "This is another instance of official backlash against genuine whistleblowers who are sincerely performing their fundamental, constitutional duty of protecting forests and wildlife without transgressing the law."

The Central Empowered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court to deal with all forest and conservation matters, on Wednesday stayed all proceedings initiated by the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kudremukh Wildlife Division; and the Conservator of Forests, Mangalore, against Mr. Jain and other conservationists.

The committee has appointed a retired forest officer from Tamil Nadu, V.R. Chitrapu, and the Supreme Court advocate, A. Mariarputham, as special invitees for dealing with this matter. They will inquire into the issues raised by the KWF and file a report to the committee within 30 days.

The KWF complained to the committee, alleging mala fide action by the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kudremukh Wildlife Division, Anita Arekal; and the Conservator of Forests, Mangalore, K.S. Sugura, in preventing the foundation from monitoring the implementation of the Supreme Court order. The KWF contended that the raids came after Mr. Jain and his colleagues highlighted several alleged violations by the Forest Department officials.

The KWF had earlier questioned the Forest Department's decision to construct a road in the national park and sought information from the department regarding the overall management plan for the park, under the Karnataka Right to Information Act, 2000.

The information was not forthcoming, and Mr. Jain complained to the Principal Secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, who recommended action against the officials, and also a fine to be imposed on them.

The KWF then found itself at the receiving end of questions, charges slapped against them on various counts, and even summons to appear before the Deputy Conservator of Forests.

First a list of 78 questions was sent to the NGO demanding details of where it got its funds from, registration, and the permission given to work within the park. Charges were slapped with retrospective effect under the Wildlife Protection Act and the Karnataka Forest Rules for trespassing in the park in 2001. Finally, on April 19, Ms. Arekal raided the Mr. Jain's office and seized computers, diaries and documents without a search warrant.

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