Odisha to Set Up Special Courts to Tackle Wildlife Crime

Bhubaneswar: To intensify efforts against illegal wildlife trade and strengthen the protection of wild animals, Odisha is set to establish special courts in all districts to exclusively handle wildlife-related cases. This decision comes following a directive from the Orissa High Court aimed at streamlining the legal process for wildlife offenses.

According to an official communication from the High Court’s Special Officer, the courts of Chief Judicial Magistrates (CJM) and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrates (ACJM) in each district will be designated as special courts for dealing with cases under wildlife laws. The only exception is Sundargarh district, where the CJM in Sundargarh and the ACJM in Rourkela will be designated as the special courts to handle such cases.

The Odisha Law Department has been instructed to coordinate with the state government to issue a formal notification to implement this initiative.

This move is expected to expedite the legal process in wildlife-related cases and deter illegal activities such as poaching and the trade of endangered species. With dedicated courts in place, the state aims to enhance the enforcement of wildlife protection laws and ensure more timely justice in cases of wildlife crime.