New Delhi Nature Society vs Director Horticulture, DDA 2025 INSC 1358 - Wild life - Deer Population
Wild Life Conservation - The deer population at the Deer Park is a reminder that conservation is not merely the relocation of animals but an exercise in stewardship: preserving species, habitats, and the environmental ethos enshrined in our constitutional framework - Supreme Court issued directions to ensure that the welfare of the deer population is secured in accordance with the statutory framework prevailing in India and internationally accepted conservation guidelines/norms. (Para 22-24)
Constitution of India - Articles 21, 48A and 51A(g) - Articles 48A and 51A(g) embody a collective commitment to safeguard forests and wildlife and to act with compassion for all living beings, while Article 21 has been judicially recognized as encompassing the right to a clean and ecologically balanced environment. (Para 23)
Case Info
Case name: New Delhi Nature Society vs Director Horticulture, DDA & Ors
- Neutral citation: 2025 INSC 1358
- Coram: Justice Vikram Nath; Justice Sandeep Mehta
- Judgment date: November 26, 2025
- Jurisdiction: Supreme Court of India, Extraordinary Appellate Jurisdiction (SLP (C) Nos. 13374-13375 of 2025)
Caselaws and citations
The order does not cite specific prior case law by name. It references constitutional and statutory principles rather than particular precedents.
Statutes/laws and guidelines referred
- Constitution of India: Articles 48A, 51A(g), and 21
- Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Section 38H(4) and 38H(6)
- National Zoo Policy, 1998
- Zoo Rules, 2009
- Guidelines for the Establishment and Scientific Management of Zoos in India, 2008
- IUCN Guidelines: Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations (2014)
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: In context of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) working under statute
