GUARDIANS OF THE WILD: SUPREME COURT’S RESTORATION MANDATE FOR CORBETT NATIONAL PARK

INTRODUCTION
In Re: Corbett (2025), decided on 17 November 2025 by a Bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark Judgment aimed at rescuing the deteriorating ecology of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The Court issued strong directions to regulate tourism, restore damaged core areas and reform long-term conservation policies.

BACKGROUND
Corbett National Park, once a thriving model of wildlife protection, has in recent years suffered extensive ecological damage due to uncontrolled tourism and unlawful construction. Massive tree felling, disruption of soil and natural drainage, blocking of water channels and the construction of illegal buildings had pushed the reserve toward irreversible harm.
A proposed tiger safari, conceptually inconsistent with the objectives of tiger conservation, further heightened concerns. In response, the Supreme Court appointed an Expert Committee to conduct a detailed inspection. Its findings revealed severe destruction, particularly in the Pakhro Range, including illegal constructions and damage to natural drainage systems. These revelations triggered the Court’s detailed and time-bound directions.

ISSUES BEFORE THE COURT
1) Whether the Court can direct full ecological restoration in damaged zones of the reserve.
2) What kinds of activities, if any, can be permitted in the core tiger habitat without harming conservation efforts?
3) What regulatory framework should govern tiger safaris and tourism within and around tiger reserves.
4) What preventive measures the State must take to stop future illegal constructions and environmental violations.
These issues were examined in the context of constitutional obligations under Articles 21, 48A, and 51A(g), reinforcing that environmental protection is not merely statutory but a constitutional mandate binding both the State and citizens.

CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
Article 21 – Right to Life: The Court reiterated that a clean, healthy and safe environment is integral to the right to life. Destroying forests and wildlife habitats directly impacts human well-being.
Article 48A – Duty of the State: The State is constitutionally obligated to protect forests and wildlife. The damage to Corbett reflects a failure to uphold this mandate.
Article 51A(g) – Duty of Citizens: Every citizen must protect and improve the natural environment. Conservation of tiger reserves is thus a shared national responsibility.

COURT’S OBSERVATIONS ON EXPERT FINDINGS
The Supreme Court noted that the ecological damage within Corbett was far more serious than previously acknowledged. Instead of regulating destructive activities, authorities had permitted and at times, enabled them. The Court stressed that tiger reserves must not be treated as tourist playgrounds but as fragile ecological zones in urgent need of repair. The priority, it held, must be restoration, not recreation.

KEY DIRECTIONS AND TIMELINES ISSUED BY THE COURT
Restoration Plan: The State of Uttarakhand must submit a comprehensive ecological restoration plan within two months.
Removal of Illegal Structures: All unauthorized constructions identified by the Expert Committee must be demolished within three months.
Monitoring by CEC: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) will supervise restoration and receive regular reports from the Field Director.
Ban on Tiger Safaris in Core Area: No safari or tourism activity will be allowed in the core tiger habitat.
Permissible Zones for Safaris: Any safari must be located only on non-forest land, strictly avoiding tiger corridors.
Environmental safeguards:
• Only limited vehicles allowed and they must be hybrid or electric.
• Strict ban on plastic and waste dumping.
• No commercial projects that may harm wildlife.
• Silence zone regulations to be strictly enforced.
Tiger Conservation Plan: A new Tiger Conservation Plan must be drafted within six months.

CONCLUSION
Through this Judgment, the Supreme Court has articulated a clear, uncompromising vision for wildlife protection. It emphasizes that tiger reserves exist for tigers, not for tourists. The decision not only charts the path for restoring Corbett but also strengthens India’s broader conservation framework.

THE REAL TEST LIES BEYOND THE COURTROOM
While the Judgment has received widespread appreciation, implementation poses significant challenges:
1) Administrative and political will often determines whether such directions translate into ground-level change.
2) The complete ban on core-area safaris, though ecologically sound, may adversely impact the livelihoods of people in Uttarakhand who depend heavily on tourism.
3) This ripple effect extends nationwide—any region relying on eco-tourism may feel the economic strain. The State must therefore develop alternative livelihood models to ensure community support rather than resistance.
4) Corbett ultimately represents a larger test: whether India can walk the talk in environmental governance and prioritise long-term ecological health over short-term commercial gains.

VENNELASAI GUNDOJU
Associate
The Indian Lawyer & Allied Services

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