Elephant corridors: States are not listening to Union government, this is hopeless, Supreme Court

The Supreme Court yesterday came down heavily on various State governments for failing to respond to its notice and to the Union government’s request, in the case relating to the establishment of elephant corridors. The Court said that when the States don’t listen to the Union government, the situation is “hopeless”..The remarks were made by a Bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta hearing the matter which relates to setting up of 27 critical elephant corridors in 22 states to prevent elephant deaths and accidents. In this regard, the Court had directed the Environment Ministry to come up with a solution..The Centre had sought a response from the 22 States pursuant to the same. But when the matter came up for hearing yesterday, it informed the Court that 13 States had still not filed their responses. Miffed at this lackadaisical approach, Justice Lokur commented,.“Nobody listens to the Government of India… States are not listening to the Government of India. Yesterday we had the same problem, today we have the same problem. This is hopeless! There has to be a solution to this… is the Government of India helpless?”.Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre, pointed out to the Court that despite the Court’s previous order, the States had not filed their response. To this, Justice Lokur asked Nadkarni,.“If the Government of India can’t do anything, do you think our order will make a difference?”.Annoyed by the conduct of the State governments, Justice Lokur said that it was a critical situation..“It’s a crisis. If state governments will say we will do whatever we want and let the Government of India say anything, this country will break up”, Justice Lokur said..The Court has decided to hear the matter next in August and has sought a detailed chart on the establishments and resorts that exist in the areas notified as Elephant Corridors..Read the order below.