Supreme Court Directs Central Zoo Authority To Inspect Translocated Deer From Hauz Khas Deer Park

The Supreme Court on Friday (May 16) directed officers of the Central Zoo Authority to visit the places in Rajasthan where 261 deer have been translocated from the Deer Park at Hauz Khas in Delhi, and to assess the condition of the deer.

A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was informed that 261 out of the 600 deer have already been shifted from the park in a case concerning the proposed translocation of 600 deer from the Hauz Khas Deer Park.

“We direct the officers of the Central Zoo Authority to immediately visit the place or places where 261 deer have transferred and ascertain the present condition of the said deer”, the Court stated.

The plea, filed by the NGO New Delhi Nature Society, contends that around 600 deer in Hauz Khas are likely to be relocated without proper habitat assessments, veterinary checks, or safeguards for vulnerable groups like pregnant deer and fawns.

It has claimed that three batches of deer had already been relocated hastily from the Deer Park to sanctuaries in Rajasthan in violation of wildlife protection laws.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that many of the deer that were translocated are no longer surviving. She submitted there is not a single deer left in three deer packs transferred to Mukundra Tiger Reserve and Gumnamwadi, as they were consumed immediately by the predators. She further said that the transfer has been counter productive to the local population, as the predators are attacking humans.

However, the DDA counsel submitted that as per Rajasthan Forest Department, the survival rate of deer once 98 percent after opening the enclosures.

Taking note of these submissions, the court directed that officers of the Central Zoo Authority must immediately visit the location and ascertain the present condition of the deer. The court also directed that the officers give advance notice of the visit to the petitioner, so that a representative of the petitioner can remain present during the visit.

The Central Zoo Authority has to submit a report about the condition of the deer within two weeks. The Court added, “In the event it is found that either the deer are not surviving or they are in poor condition, we grant liberty to the petitioner to move this court by filing appropriate application.”

The Court also directed the DDA's Horticulture Director to consider the petitioner's suggestion to shift the deer to an upcoming deer park in Noida and give a response withing six weeks.

The Court posted the matter for hearing on July 18.

On April 30, the court had restrained the Delhi Development Authority and other authorities from shifting the remaining deer from the Hauz Khas Deer Park to forests in other states. The interim relief restraining further translocation of the remaining deer from the Hauz Khas park will continue until further orders.

Case no. – SLP(C) No. 13374-13375/2025 Diary No. 20272 / 2025

Case Title – New Delhi Nature Society v. Director Horticulture

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