Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the famished living conditions of the forest-dwelling nomadic ‘Van Gujjar’ community in the state, Uttarakhand High Court reprimanded the state government for the alleged neglect and callousness.
“…it seems that the callous attitude of the Deputy Director of the Park, and of the Civil Administration has forced these families to survive in conditions, which are below the animal existence,” a bench comprising of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma remarked.
“…Prima facie, the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India is being violated by the respondents,” the court added.
A non-government organisation (NGO) named Think Act Rise Foundation had filed a petition to showcase the plight of the nomadic Himalayan community.
The court directed the Uttarkashi district magistrate and the deputy director of the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park to accommodate the families in ‘pucca houses’ and provide them with food, water and medicines besides fodder for their cattle.
On Advocate General S. N. Babulkar’s contention that the entry of these families may endanger the wildlife at the park as they might be infected with COVID19 and it may spread from human beings to animals, the court stated they should immediately be tested for coronavirus.
The Van Gujjars primarily depend on selling buffalo milk for their livelihood. Ever since the pandemic began last year, people have refused to buy milk from them which has thrown their livelihoods out of gear.
