"Wildlife management cannot be approached as a matter of administrative convenience," the court said.The Supreme Court has ordered an independent, scientific audit of the translocation of 261 deer from Delhi's Hauz Khas Deer Park to two wildlife reserves in Rajasthan, citing crucial safeguards that were not followed during the operation.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the evidence presented pointed to continuing mismanagement at the deer park, repeated regulatory warnings, and allegations that many of the animals were transported or released in violation of scientific norms governing wildlife translocation.
The bench noted that the case reflected a broader failure in urban ecological governance, stressing that wildlife management must rest on scientific assessment, ecological principles, and constitutional values.
"Wildlife management cannot be approached as a matter of administrative convenience. It must be anchored in scientific assessment, ecological prudence, and fidelity to constitutional values," the bench observed.
The case originated in 2023, when a Delhi-based environmental organisation challenged the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) proposal to relocate the park's entire deer population -- estimated at roughly 350 to 600 -- to wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan and to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi.
The petitioner moved the Supreme Court after the High Court rejected the plea in 2024, following the DDA's undertaking to retain a small number of deer at the park. During the Supreme Court appeal, it was revealed that 261 deer had already been moved.
In earlier hearings, the Court raised concerns after the petitioner claimed that several of the translocated animals might not have survived. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) was subsequently directed to inspect the release sites in Rajasthan and report its findings.
The petitioner alleged serious irregularities during both the translocation and the inspection process, including deer being crammed into trucks, transported without veterinary supervision, and released in predator-heavy tiger reserves without food or water.
The Court noted ongoing uncertainties about the number of deer moved, their survival, and whether mandatory scientific protocols were followed. It expressed concern that officials may have relocated pregnant females, juveniles, and antlered males; transported large numbers of animals in single trucks; and failed to tag, microchip, or monitor the deer after release.
The bench also questioned the decision to release captive-bred deer in tiger-bearing habitats without any evidence that they could survive in the wild. Photographs and reports indicated that some deer had been tied up and may have been used as live bait, according to Bar and Bench.
The judges added that allegations of starvation, falsified population figures, and misuse of funds at the park also required independent verification.
The Court has now directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to inspect both Delhi's Hauz Khas Deer Park and the relocation sites in Rajasthan. Within eight weeks, the CEC must submit two reports: one on the park's deer population, carrying capacity, and welfare conditions; and another on habitat suitability and survival rates at the Rajasthan release sites.
The CEC has also been tasked with drafting a roadmap for all future translocation efforts, including tagging, transport standards, veterinary care, and post-release monitoring. The Court has stayed any further relocation until the reports are submitted and has banned private and commercial events at the park, directing the DDA to prioritise educational programmes instead.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 17, 2026, when the CEC and DDA reports will be reviewed.