Attacks on forest staff worry SC, says they be given arms

Forest staff in Maha have lathis, in K’taka they roam in chappals: Top court

The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concern over brutal attacks on the unarmed rangers and guards in forests by the poachers and suggested to equip them with arms and bulletproof jackets as has been done in Assam.

Heading a bench Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde said it was sad and distressing to see the forest guards wearing slippers and armed with lathis and tasked to protect huge tracts of forest land, with little chance to meet the challenges of the armed poachers and because of the terrain, they cannot even seek urgent help.

The apex court said it may pass orders to provide arms, bullet proof vests and helmets to officials above a certain rank to deal with heavily armed poachers as in some states they are only given lathis.

“We think the situation is serious and forest guards would have difficulty in protecting vast tracts of inhibited land. It is difficult to imagine how any law can be enforced by the forest staff who are unarmed against poachers who are likely to be carrying arms,” CJI Bobde said.

It took note of the fact that in Assam forest officials are heavily armed to prevent poaching, but in Maharashtra the forest officials are only given “lathi” and in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the staff are seen wearing “chappals ( slippers)” on duty.

Sitting with Justices A. S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, CJI Bobde also suggested that the Enforcement Directorate ( ED) to expand its footprints to deal with the illegal trade in the wildlife involving millions of dollars.

Appearing for the Central government, solicitor- general Tushar Mehta agreed to explore the option of arming the forest guards and expanding the role of ED to curb the illegal trade in the wildlife related assets.

The court was hearing a petition seeking appropriate directions to protect the lives of the forest officials, rangers and other employees, who many times are attacked by poachers when they are on duty in deep forest areas.