In a bold move to reshape Kerala, a young IAS officer has laid out a comprehensive plan for impactful reforms. His vision includes raising the retirement age to harness seasoned talent, invigorating nightlife to draw in tourists and investors
The version of you nobody gets to see, based on your zodiac signYour zodiac sign may not define your entire personality, but it can reveal the emotions, fears, and wishes you often keep locked away from everyone else. Updated on: May 10, 2026 4:10 PM IST Edited by Kanakanjali Roy Share via Copy
Celebrated Urdu poet Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi's memoir now available in EnglishCelebrated Urdu poet Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi's memoir now available in English Published on: May 10, 2026 4:16 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, The English translation of the autobiography of celebrated
HPBOSE 10th result out: Check direct link to get marksheet | Step-by-step guideHPBOSE students are advised to rely only on authentic websites for official updates regarding the results. Updated on: May 10, 2026 1:59 PM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link The Himachal Pradesh Board of School
My daughter has done M.Sc. Environmental Science and is doing PG Diploma GIS. What are the job opportunities in India? What are her options for higher studies? Latha M.Sc. Environmental Science provides understanding of pollution, ecology, and climate and the PG Diploma in GIS provides the
Jaipur founder names office spaces after Pink City landmarks, urges firms to value Indian heritageA Jaipur startup founder drew praise for replacing Western style office names with Jaipur heritage inspired ones. Published on: May 10, 2026 4:11 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A
The Art of Living International Center witnessed a historic gathering on Sunday as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to celebrate 45 years of The Art of Living movement and the 70th birthday of its founder. Bengaluru: The Art of Living International Center
on Saturday said its chief business officer has resigned from his position, citing personal reasons, according to a regulatory filing.Bhargava will cease to be part of the senior management team with effect from the close of business hours on May 15, 2026, the company said
‘Animal acquisitions as per law’: Supreme Court-appointed SIT gives clean chit to Vantara
‘Animal acquisitions as per law’: Supreme Court-appointed SIT gives clean chit to Vantara
A Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to conduct an “independent factual appraisal” of complaints against Reliance-owned Vantara, a zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has found no statutory irregularities in the acquisition of animals.
The SIT, headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice J. Chelameswar, concluded that the acquisitions were in accordance with regulatory laws and recorded the satisfaction of authorities on all statutory compliance.
A Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale noted that the SIT had undertaken a “thorough and extensive investigation” into the complaints and said it had “no hesitation in accepting the conclusion so drawn in the report”.
“The imports of the animals have been made only after the issuance of valid permits. Once the imports of animals are fully documented and supported by valid permits, it is not open for anyone to go beyond the said permits and to dispute the validity attached to such permits or official acts,” the Court said.
The Bench further said that, on a perusal of the SIT report, it was “satisfied” that Vantara's practices, in certain respects, “exceed” the prescribed standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care and welfare, as well as “internationally recognised benchmarks”.
Addressing allegations of misuse of carbon credits, water resources, and financial impropriety, the Court said the SIT had found them to be baseless, relying upon responses from agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
During the proceedings, senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Anant Ambani's Vantara, opposed making the SIT report public and urged that a “quietus” be given to the controversy once and for all.
“There is some degree of commercial confidentiality that has to be maintained. This facility is one of its kind in the world. We do not want that tomorrow there are reports appearing in the New York Times. We must have a decent burial on this issue,” he submitted. He also sought a copy of the report, stating that if it contained any suggestions for improvement, the authorities at Vantara could benefit from them.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Gujarat, concurred with Mr. Salve's submission that the report should not be made public but said it may be shared with the authorities at Vantara to enable it to act on any recommendations.
He added that while he was not privy to the contents of the report, the questions framed by the Court in its August 25 order covered all aspects of the facility's functioning.
Although the Court did not make the entire SIT report public, it made the summary a part of the order, noting that it does not carry the same degree of confidentiality and provides a faithful account of the conclusions reached by the SIT.
It also directed that a copy of the report be furnished to the authorities at Vantara, subject to an undertaking that it would not be disclosed to third parties.
The Court was hearing two petitions filed by advocates C.R. Jaya Sukin and Dev Sharma, who had alleged irregularities at Vantara on the basis of media reports, social media posts, and complaints from NGOs and wildlife organisations regarding alleged violations of law and the acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants.
The Court had earlier observed that although petitions raising such “unsubstantiated allegations” did not deserve to be entertained, it would be appropriate to order an independent enquiry to meet “the ends of justice.”
When the matter was taken up, the petitioners sought to respond to the SIT report, citing news reports that an elephant which had performed rituals at a Jammu and Kashmir temple for two decades was taken to Vantara by government officials. Mr. Salve questioned the locus of the petitioner, pointing out that the temple authorities themselves had not raised any grievance.
Refusing to entertain the allegation, the Bench remarked: “If somebody wants to acquire an animal and follows the law, what is wrong with it? You have elephants used for processions in temples. We won't go into individual allegations.”
The Court further said that repeated enquiries into the affairs of Vantara had resulted in findings which found no violation of law whatsoever. It thus recorded in the order that no further complaints or proceedings based upon the same set of allegations should be entertained before any judicial or administrative forum to “obviate repetitive enquiries”.
The Judges also commended the promptness with which the SIT submitted its report by September 12 in compliance with its earlier direction.
Besides Justice Chelameswar, the members of the SIT included Justice Raghavendra Chauhan, former Chief Justice of Uttarakhand and Telangana High Courts; Hemant Nagrale, IPS (former Mumbai Police Commissioner); and Anish Gupta, IRS, Additional Commissioner, Customs.
Also read | How Kolhapur villagers fought for an elephant
The Court had instructed the special team to look into grievances raised about the “creation of a vanity or private collection, breeding, conservation programmes and use of biodiversity resources, misutilisation of water and carbon credits, breach of laws of trade in animals or animal articles, wildlife smuggling and money laundering.”
The SIT had been asked to submit a report on a broad set of parametres such as Vantara's acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants; its compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the rules for zoos made thereunder; with provisions of the law regarding trade in animals or animal articles, and with the standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care and animal welfare.
“The SIT may enquire into any other aspect it deems appropriate to submit a complete factual report to this court,” the Bench had ordered.
Reacting to the ruling, a press release by Vantara said that it welcomed the findings of the SIT that the doubts and allegations raised against Vantara's animal welfare mission were without any basis. “The validation of the truth by the distinguished and widely respected members of the SIT is not just a relief for everyone at Vantara but also a blessing, because it allows our work to speak for itself,” the facility said.
Published - September 15, 2025 01:59 pm IST
judiciary (system of justice) / animal / wildlife
Source: The Hindu
Related Posts: SIT appointed by Supreme Court inspects Vantara Animal Rescue Centre in Gujarat National Sports Board to be constituted in next 3 months Govt has asked SIT to expedite investigation SC appointed SIT gives clean chit to Vantara Supreme Court sets up SIT to investigate Vantara rescue centre Bengal SIR special observer appointed advisor to CM Suvendu Adhikari Former HPD Santiago Nieva appointed Indian women's boxing team coach Courtney Walsh Appointed As Bowling Consultant For This Team Ahead Of T20 WC Court seals records in investigation of teen's body found in singer D4vd's Tesla Can sit in court till midnight to ensure justice for poor litigants
There is a story in the Jataka tales about a merchant who sells a parrot with a gift for philosophy. The bird can recite the names of virtues and moralities flawlessly. What it cannot do is practise them because no one in the house models them
1 days ago
One of Sri Lanka's highest-ranking Buddhist monks has been arrested and sent to remand prison over the alleged rape and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. The Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero holds one of the most revered positions in the Buddhist world - the chief prelate or custodian of
1 days ago
Film star-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay's has been sworn in as the new chief minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, ending days of political uncertainty. The 51-year-old's newly-formed party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won 108 seats in last week's vote-counting - leaving him 10 seats
1 days ago
MV Karuppaiah, a TVK legislator, took oath as pro-tem Speaker on Sunday. The ceremony took place at Lok Bhavan, administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay was present. Karuppaiah previously served as an AIADMK MLA
1 days ago
Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora was on Sunday sent to seven days of Enforcement Directorate custody in connection with a money-laundering investigation into allegedly fraudulent Goods and Services Tax transactions, PTI reported. The 62-year-old minister was arrested by the central agency
1 days ago
Vijay is set to take oath as Tamil Nadu CM on Sunday in Chennai, becoming the first leader outside the DMK-AIADMK formations to head the state government since 1967. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay is set to take oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday at Chennai’s
1 days ago
A car bombing at a police post in northwestern Pakistan followed by an ambush on police personnel rushing to the scene to provide backup has killed at least 12 officers, police said on Sunday (May 10, 2026). Images after the attack on Saturday (May 9
1 days ago
Gurgaon woman gives tour of ₹25,000 studio apartment, internet calls it ‘highly overpriced’A Gurgaon woman showed her ₹25,000 studio apartment, sparking debate as many called the rent overpriced. Published on: May 10, 2026 5:10 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A Gurgaon
1 days ago
At the swearing-in ceremony inside Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Rahul Gandhi stood smiling beside his ally Vijay as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief took the oath as Chief Minister. The moment underscored a relationship rooted in a 2009 encounter when Vijay reportedly sought to
1 days ago
Maruti Suzuki India has launched a new ‘Star Edition’ accessory package for the Maruti Suzuki Eeco, priced at Rs 19,999. The package is offered as an optional dealer-fitted accessory kit and is available with the five-seater AC and five-seater AC CNG variants of the van
1 days ago
The 'Don't Blink' tagline was never meant to be taken quite so literally. When Daniel Dubois crashed to the canvas within 10 seconds of the opening bell in Manchester - and again in the third round - suddenly every soul inside the Co-op Live Arena was paying very close attention
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Pet hair, spilled cereal: Wet and dry vacuums vs robotic vacuums - which cleaner saves you from daily disasters?Wet and dry vacuum cleaners and robotic vacuum cleaners are available at
1 days ago
As Chennai gets ready for a big political day at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the mood outside is a mix of excitement, curiosity, and a bit of nostalgia too. It’s one of those moments where cinema and politics quietly blend together, and familiar faces from the film world show up in real life
1 days ago
Nancy Guthrie case: Ex-lieutenant reveals major challenge investigators are facing in locating 84-y/o, 'The evidence is…A desert "wash” just a couple of miles from Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home is posing a major challenge for investigators probing the case. Updated on: May 10
1 days ago
Returning to work after maternity leave can feel like running a marathon on four hours of sleep. Between feeding schedules, office deadlines, pumping sessions, and household responsibilities, nutrition often becomes an afterthought. Yet postpartum recovery and breastfeeding place significant
1 days ago
British Army medics have parachuted onto the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha to help a British national with suspected hantavirus. The man left MV Hondius, the cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak of the virus, in mid-April at Britain's most remote inhabited overseas territory
1 days ago
Dutch ornithologist Leo Schilperoord has been identified as the “patient zero" in a deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, according to a report by the New York Post. The 70-year-old birdwatching enthusiast is believed to have contracted the rare Andes strain
1 days ago
For decades, Canada was seen as a global laggard in defence funding, and just two years ago, recruitment was so dire that a former defence minister warned the armed forces were in a "death spiral". Now, the Canadian army is growing at a pace not seen in decades
1 days ago
After White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that she had recently welcomed a baby girl, Iran used the occasion to criticise her for defending the United States over the deadly Minab school strike earlier this year. Leavitt, 28
1 days ago
Institutions must nurture innovation, resilience: Jaipuria Institute of Management directorInstitutions must nurture innovation, resilience: Jaipuria Institute of Management director Published on: May 10, 2026 2:39 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Ghaziabad
1 days ago
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday congratulated West Bengal Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari after his oath-taking ceremony. On Saturday, Adhikari became the first BJP leader to become the chief minister of West Bengal
1 days ago
I grew up in Pune and being around engineers, innovators, and academics from a young age encouraged me to aim higher. I wanted to see the world, learn about new technology, and build a career that matters. This led me to the University of Sheffield. While in India, I completed B
1 days ago
A total of 54%, or 126 out of the 234 winning candidates in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, have criminal cases against them, according to a study released on Saturday by the Association for Democratic Reforms and Tamil Nadu Election Watch. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
1 days ago
Singer Suchitra has expressed her dislike towards actress Trisha Krishnan amid her dating rumours with actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay. In a recent interview, Suchitra made it clear that even though she likes Vijay, she does not like Trisha
1 days ago
A salaried employee has the option to choose between the old and the new income tax regimes while filing their returns, though the latter one continues to remain the default option. In the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not announce any changes to the existing income
1 days ago
India’s women’s recurve team delivered under pressure when it mattered most, edging past hosts China in a dramatic shoot-off to win gold at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai on Sunday. The trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and teenage archer Kumkum Mohod clinched a tense 5-4 victory
1 days ago
The next in the series featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, technologists and researchers about emerging technologies and what students need to know about these fields. I am the co-founder and CEO of Ziroh Labs. We work at the convergence of advanced mathematical concepts and sophisticated
1 days ago
