The Petitioners have approached the Supreme Court challenging orders of the Madras High Court which declared all commercial activity within a notified elephant corridor to be impermissible and directed the State of Tamil Nadu to acquire nearly 3,500 acres of privately owned patta land.

Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid appeared for the petitioners in the lead matter, submitting that the corridor was newly designated and that several occupants and establishments existed in the area long prior to the impugned directions. He contended that the regulatory framework, including eco-sensitive zone norms, permits continuation of existing activities subject to regulation, and that a holistic assessment of actual impact on elephant movement was required.

Senior Advocate Shoeb Alam appeared in the connected batch matters and also addressed the Court. On behalf of the petitioners, it was submitted that multiple petitions arising from the same set of High Court orders were pending before different Benches, and that all such matters ought to be heard together to ensure a comprehensive and consistent adjudication.

The Chief Justice of India–led Bench took note of the submissions, with the matters expected to be listed together in January.

Appearances:

Mr. Salman Khurshid, Sr. Adv. assisted by Ms. Sommya Chaturvedi, Adv appeared for Petitioners in lead matter (M/s Jungle Hut v UOI & Ors) w/ Mr. Zafar Khurshid and Ms. Lubna Naaz of TKC Partners LLP, and Mr. Vivek Raja, AOR.

Mr. Shoeb Alam, Sr. Adv. appeared in connected batch matters, w/ Mr. Zafar Khurshid and Ms. Lubna Naaz, AOR, of TKC Partners LLP.