The Supreme Court on Monday said that the SIT constituted by it has given clean chit to Vantara, a zoological rescue and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat, owned by business tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s son, Anant Ambani, in the temple elephants transfer case.
The court said the SIT headed by former SC judge Justice J Chelameswar reported that “authorities have expressed satisfaction on the issues of compliances and regulatory measures.”
A bench of Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice PB Varale made the observation while reading the report submitted by the SIT. The court was hearing a writ petition seeking investigation into the affairs of Vantara (Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre) run by the Reliance Foundation at Jamnagar, Gujarat.
‘How do you say it was tortured?’, asks SC
The top court noted that the acquisition of the temple elephants was made under legal and regulatory provisions, and asked the petitioners to explain the basis of the claim that elephants were not begin taken care of.
“On what basis you say the elephant of the temple is not being taken care of by Vantara?” Justice Mithal asked. The counsel replied saying, “It was there for 20 years…”
The bench interrupted and said, “How do you say it was tortured? we will not go into this…” and added that they agree certain things are pride of this country, “we should not rake it up suddenly, allow certain good things to happen to this country.”
The bench took the report on record and noted that authorities have expressed satisfaction on the issue of compliance and regulatory measures in Vantara. The report, reported PTI, was submitted on Friday, but the top court perused it on Monday.
The apex court said it will pass a detailed order during the day after going through the report. The SIT was constituted on August 25 to conduct a fact-finding inquiry against Vantara. The allegations against the wildlife centre was of non-compliance with laws and acquisition of animals from India and abroad, particularly elephants.
The apex court the formed a four-member SIT headed by a former apex court judge while hearing two PILs alleging irregularities against Vantara on the basis of reports in the media and social media and diverse complaints from NGOs and wildlife organisations.