Vijay Kumar Shukla, J.

1. Both the writ petitions have been filed in the form of public interest litigation, alleging that presence of leopards is being noticed in and around the residential area of Rampur Colony, District Jabalpur and the same has become a menace to the society. It is alleged that the respondents-authorities are not taking any action for capturing the leopards, while there is continuous threats of leopard attacking to the local residents.

2. On notice the respondents have filed a detailed reply and submitted that the petitions are not only misplaced and misconceived, but are based on poor understanding of the subject. It is submitted that the Nayagaon Colony is adjacent to the Madan Mahal Hills and Forest area. The total forest area available in the Madan Mahal Hills is approximately 603 hectares i.e. about 1490 acres, which includes forest land, MPEB Green Land, Private Green Land, two large and three small water bodies. It is stated that the said area is being developed as Madan Mahal Eco Zone by the authorities which includes the Forest Department; Municipal Corporation, Jabalpur; Jabalpur Smart City Limited and District Administration. It is further averred that the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India has issued detailed guidelines titled as "Guidelines for Human - Leopard Conflict Management" in April, 2011. The said Guidelines deal with various aspects of conflict management, including the cases where capture of translocation of leopards can be ordered; the manner of capture; and medical health and spreading general awareness for a healthy coexistence for humans and leopards.

Copy of the Guidelines for Human - Leopard Conflict Management has been filed as Annexures-R/2.

3. It is further stated that the respondents and the Departments are proceeding in the matter as per the Guidelines issued for Human - Leopard Conflict Management. The respondents are continuously, monitoring the situation and further steps would be taken in compliance of the said provisions depending upon the situation, as it presents itself. Significant number of Forest Staff has been deployed and camera traps have been installed at various places in and around the hills and habitations to monitor the behavior of the leopard in the subject area. It is submitted that as of now there is no confirmed case of any attack on any human or livestock. The leopards in the area have picked up a few stray dogs, which is considered to be normal behavior as peripheral leopards are known to survive on stray dogs and pigs. Therefore, as on date the capture of the animal would amount to abject violation of the provision envisaged in section 11 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and also the 2011 Guidelines issued by the Government of India.

4. The respondents have also stated various Guidelines have also been issued by different States which have considerable experience of existence of leopards in and around human habitations. They have referred to the Guidelines prepared by the Government of Maharashtra titled as - "Human Leopard Conflict Management Guidelines, 2007". The respondents have also referred the example of Sanjay Gandhi National Park which is situated in the heart of Mumbai and various research papers along with return.

5. The comprehensive return filed on behalf of the respondents clearly demonstrates that the respondents are monitoring the situation as per section 11 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Guidelines issued by the Government of India as well. They are taking further steps as and when required.

6. In view of the return filed by the respondents, nothing survives to be adjudicated in the present writ petitions, as the issues raised therein have been duly answered by the respondents.

7. Accordingly, the writ petitions stand disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.