High Court directs State government not to allow cattle grazing in forest areas

A Division Bench of the Madras High Court  directed the state Forest Department not to allow cattle growers to take their domestic animals into the forest areas for grazing.

The bench, consisting of Justices V Bharathidasan and N Sathish Kumar passed the direction on hearing a petition filed by Thirumurugan, a resident of Ramanathapuram. The petitioner sought direction to the state to restrict cattle-rearing people from taking their animals into the forests in Megamalai, Theni district.

The petitioner submitted that there is regular cattle grazing inside these forest areas which leads to degradation of the forests.

“Rampant illegal cattle grazing in forests of Theni district leads to habitat loss for wildlife, which furthermore leads to devastating human-wildlife conflict,” the petitioner added.

On recording the submissions, the bench directed the state to pass orders restraining movement of domestic animals for grazing inside the forests.