Thread by @barandbench

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), under the aegis of the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA), hosts a two-day regional conference aimed at addressing the growing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in the country.

Justice Surya Kant, Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), will inaugurate the conference.

Besides Justice Surya Kant, Nitin Jamdar, Chief Justice, Kerala High Court, who is also patron-in-chief, KeLSA, Justice MM Sundaresh, judge, Supreme Court of India, Justice BV Nagarathna, judge, Supreme Court of India, Justice Vikram Nath, judge, Supreme Court of India and Chairman, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, A Muhammed Mustaque, judge, High Court of Kerala and executive chairman of KeLSA, CS Dias, judge, High Court of Kerala, R Venkataramani, Attorney General of India, and P Rajeev, Minister of Law, Kerala, are present at the conference.

Justice A Muhammed Mustaque delivers the opening remarks.

Justice A Muhammed Mustaque: We must thank NALSA for choosing Kerala for the regional conference. A profound gratitude to executive chairman for choosing Kerala for this—a topic which is badly needed in Kerala for discussion and deliberation.

In this Planet, we aren't human alone, there are other countless creatures. Our choices are always human-centric often forgetting there are countless human creatures. In Kerala alone is past 5 years we witnessed around 500 human lives lost. The last 22-23 years, the data shows that in India 622 humans lives have been lost mainly due to attack of elephant... This discussion is all about for deliberations to evolve legal principles and jurisprudence to formulate laws and help us in adjudication.

P Rajeev, Minister of Law, Kerala now starts delivering his speech.

P Rajeev: Human-wildlife conflict in Kerala has reached a critical stage, posing a serious threat to human welfare. Kerala has became a epicenter of this challenge.

P Rajeev: A comprehensive policy to protect lives of human beings, but at the same time recognising the relevance of wildlife for a sustainable environment is the need of day. I hope the outcome of the deliberations of this regional conference would provide concrete solutions towards understanding this issue.

Nitin Jamdar, Chief Justice Kerala High Court: Humans a wildlife have coexisted for centuries, but now this coexistence is getting strained leading to conflict in areas where two live in proximity.

Nitin Jamdar: Those who face the main affect of this conflict are the members of vulnerable sections of society—tribals and vulnerable communities. They are also entitled to protective umbrella of Legal Services Authority, Act. Recognizing this need, NALSA has introduced a special scheme which is the theme of today's conference. Under this schemes victims get special assistance, but also the aspect of wildlife protection is kept in mind.

R Venkataramani, Attorney General of India: The job of Attorney General is to listen much more than to speak out. But then in a conference like this, where something so dear to mind and heart appeals to you to speak. What greater contribution can there be to human rights than through the lense of animal rights by such discussions.

R Venkataramani: Our Indian understanding such as all life forms a divine are manifestations of cosmic energy.

R. Venkataramani: Let's me figure out three facets human-animal conflicts: conflict avoidance, conflict management and conflict resolution. No one common regulatory framework for all of them may work.

R Venkataramani: Animals as persons may have right to due process aginst excessive human intrusion. Biodiversity is an entity that must be worshiped and not treated as mere exploitable commodity.

Justice MM Sundresh: A powerful statement has been madr by Hubert Reeves. I quote: "Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature. Unaware that this Nature he’s destroying is this God he’s worshiping".

A powerful statement bringing out the ignorance of human being. It is we who have created this situation. Day in and day out we see news reports of elephants coming in and destroying the crops, killing people and tigers coming out. They don't do it. They don't have concept of property.

Justice MM Sundresh: In the name of development, in the name of expansion or whatever name you give it, it is we who have created this situation.

I read somewhere a WhatsApp message. It is a beautiful message. The message is like this: If animals could have a religion, man would be devil. Is is not true?

Justice BV Nagarathna: It is said that human beings are composed of five elements of nature, which teach lessons and inspire strength in the formulation of true character. For example earth teaches us patience and love, air teaches us mobility and liberty, fire teaches us warmth and courage, sky teaches us equality and broad-mindedness and water teaches us purity and cleanliness. The idea of all this that we are all a part of nature. Man is not apart from nature.

Justice BV Nagarathna: I may recollect an incident which I read in the newspaper a few years ago in Mangalore, where a leopard and a dog strayed into toilet in a farmhouse near Mangalore. The owner wasn’t aware of this and as usual in night he locked the toilet and went to sleep. In the morning when toilet door was opened, to his surprise, the leopard and dog both came out. What is meaning of this. This incident shows that animals also act in accordance with context they are situation aware and emotional beings in many ways. The leopard didn't eat up dog, because it knew both were ultimately captive.

Justice NV Nagarathna: India has maintained the very precarious balance between humans and animals because of this inherent culture and belief that you have to share space with animals. However, recent trends appears that trajectory is towards human-centric approach and there is a disregard of a fundamental duty enshrined under 51(A)(G).

Justice Vikram Nath: So long I have been known in the legal fraternity for the little work I do, but I am thankful to the stray dogs for making me known to the entire civil society, not only in this country but world over. And I am thankful to my CJI for alloting me that matter.

Recently, we were in 'Law Asia Plio Summit'. The presidents of the lawyers Association were there. So they started asking questions about stray dogs matter. I felt very elated that people outside India also know me. So I am thankful to them for giving me this recognition.

And I am also been receiving messages saying that apart from dog lovers, dogs are also giving me blessings and good wishes. In addition to human blessings and good wishes, I have their good wishes also.

Justice Vikram Nath: Our courts have upheld the public trust doctrine, reminding us that natural resources are not the property of state, but a trust to be preserved for present and future generations.

Justice Surya Kant and other dignitaries launch the NALSA Scheme for Access to Justice for Victims of Human-Wildlife Conflict, 2025.

Justice Surya Kant: Reverence for nature and the duty to protect it is woven deeply into the fabric of Indian tradition and culture. Today, the safeguarding for our forests is sustained through deliberate and coordinated actions at all levels of governance underpinned by rigorous judicial oversight and guided by vigilant yet supportive engagement of our citizenary.

Justice Surya Kant: In securing the conditions necessary for wildlife to thirve, we need to simultaneously ensure the safety, stability and well being of human communities.

There is today a heightened awareness of the environmental and ecological consequences of deforestation. The judiciary most notably through the green bench of Supreme Court have played a pivotal role in ensuring that nation's developmental pursuits don't extract an irreparable price from its flaura and fauna.

Justice Kant: As we move forward, our gaze must remain fixed upon those who continue to suffer as victims of human-wildlife conflict. Since many victims belong to marginalized communities, they are their families are often unaware of the legal rights and entitlements available to them .

Justice Kant: I am confident that regional conference will inspire fresh prospective and foster innovative thinking.

Justice CS Dias proposed the vote of thanks, bringing the inaugural session of the conference to a close.