- By Akansha Pandey
- Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:51 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a crucial hearing today, Wednesday, October 8, regarding the Jharkhand government's delay in declaring the Saranda forest area a sanctuary. The state's Chief Secretary, Avinash Kumar, has traveled to Delhi to be present for the proceedings, as the government faces a stern warning of contempt from the court.
The Court's Ultimatum And Government's Response
During a hearing on September 18, the Supreme Court took a strong stance on the delay, considering it a case of contempt. The court explicitly stated that if the sanctuary was not declared by October 8, contempt proceedings would be initiated against the Chief Secretary, and it directed him to be personally present at today's hearing.
Following this order, the Jharkhand government initiated swift action. Chief Minister Hemant Soren visited Delhi and returned to Ranchi on Tuesday evening after holding in-depth discussions with senior advocates and legal experts on the sensitive issue. Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar was also present during these consultations.
In a significant move, the state government formed a five-member Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore to prepare a study report on the matter.
Ground Realities And Local Objections
The Group of Ministers recently visited the Saranda area to engage with the local community and hear their objections. Local residents have expressed concerns that declaring the area a sanctuary will adversely affect their livelihoods. While the GoM is in favour of the sanctuary declaration, it aims to find a balanced solution that takes these ground realities into account.
In today's hearing, it is likely that the government will submit an affidavit detailing these actions and may request additional time from the court to resolve the matter.
Case Background
The court was previously informed that the Jharkhand government had been delaying the process. On April 29, Forest Secretary Abu Bakar Siddique filed an affidavit stating that the PCCF (Wildlife) had sent a proposal to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to declare a 576 square kilometre area as a sanctuary.
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The court accepted this proposal and ordered the sanctuary to be declared within two months of receiving the WII's report. The WII submitted its report with consent on June 30, but the government failed to meet the deadline, leading to the current standoff.