Delhi High Court orders status quo on translocation of deer from Hauz Khas Deer Park

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stayed any further translocation of spotted deer from the Deer Park located at Hauz Khas and suggested retaining at least 50 deer at the Hauz Khas park instead of closing it..The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order on an application moved by the New Delhi Nature Society.The society has sought a stay on the approval granted by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to translocate the animals from Hauz Khas to Rajasthan and Asola.The Court today asked to be informed of the reasons behind the decision to translocate the deer from the AN Jha Deer Park at Hauz Khas.“Till further orders, there shall be a status quo qua the further translocation of deer," the Court added..The Court observed that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) could shift them to other green areas while maintaining some deer at the existing places. “Maintain some (deer) over here so that children can go see,” Justice Manmohan remarked..After it was submitted that overbreeding was one of the reasons for transfer, the Court observed that the animals could then be shifted within Delhi.“Why are you sending them outside Delhi? DDA has so much of land, so much of green area, you can accommodate them there; they can be accommodated at ridges," the Court said.The Court also opined the deer may not survive if they are translocated to Rajasthan since there are many leopards in the State. .The applicant-society told the Court that the approval granted by CZA was contrary to the mandate provided in the Wildlife Protection Act as it does not record any reasons for the revocation of the zoo license.It was also submitted that many deer had already been translocated to Rajasthan. The counsel representing the respondent authorities submitted no translocation to Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary has taken place yet. Meanwhile, the applicant also submitted that the translocation so far took place without compliance with the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that prohibit the translocation of pregnant, old and newborn deer, amongst others.The Court will hear the matter again next month.