JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and state governments over negligence shown by authorities in protecting and conserving the tigers at the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR).The court has sought a reply within six weeks on a petition by Chandrabhal Singh. The petitioner sought that direction should be given to the authorities to fill in the vacancy in the STR administration as per the state empowered committee (SEC) recommendations and other committees. A plea was also made to constitute a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) as recommended by various committees.TOI in its recent ground report, ‘A gender skew threatens future of tigers in Sariska’ highlighted the shortage of staff and deplorable condition of STR in absence of relocation. The article mentioned the fact that the residents of only three of the 29 villages inside the reserve have been relocated. Also, the post of the DFO (relocation) has been vacant since 2014 with people being deputed temporarily for the job.As a tigress ST-5 and tiger ST-11 were poached within a span of two months in 2018, the petitioner has further requested the court to direct state government to take measures to control poaching and to take action against poachers in STR. Talking to TOI Singh said, “Tiger relocation programme in Panna Tiger Reserve and STR happened on the same date in 2008. While, there are about 45 tigers in PTR, Sariska has only 16 due to state government’s apathy.”In the PIL, it’s also been mentioned to implement the recommendation of the SEC for the preservation and conservation of STR under the supervision of the court and forming a judicial committee to look into the same. Moreover, prohibition of mining operations, cattle grazing and illegal activities within the STR were requested. The petitioner pleaded to enforce Section 144 of CrPC as required by the forest staff to stop rampant illegal cattle grazing.

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