Mr. K. Sreedhar Rao

The news concerning the illegal poaching of rhinoceros and other wild animals in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) was widely reported in three English dailies ~ The Telegraph dated 28th and 29th September, 2012, The Indian Express dated 27th September, 2012, and The Hindu dated 27th September, 2012 .

2. This Court suo motu registered a PIL (no.66/2012) to inquire into the news report regarding illegal poaching and killing of wild animals in the KNP. PIL 67/2012 is filed by one Mrinal Saikia on the same subject matter with an additional relief of removal of human habitation and encroachment in the animal corridors in and around the KNP.

3. The eight residents of the second addition of the KNP filed 4860/ 2013 contending that before the second addition is added to KNP the requisite formalities as required under Sections 26A and 35 of the Wild Life(Protection) Act, 1972 and the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006(in short, the Forest Rights Act of 2006) have not been complied. In that view it is submitted that without formal compliance of the requisites of law the eviction of the