Judicial Directive on Sanctuary Notification
Supreme Court Directs Wildlife Status for Saranda Forest: The Supreme Court has ordered the Jharkhand government to notify 31,468.25 hectares of the Saranda Game Sanctuary as the Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary within 90 days. The directive reinstates the 1968 Bihar notification, ensuring the area’s legal protection is fully restored.
The Court highlighted that ecological conservation must go hand in hand with safeguarding the rights of indigenous communities who live inside the forest.
Ecological Importance
Saranda is considered one of Asia’s finest sal-dominated forests, retaining nearly 70% intact forest cover. It shelters 23 mammal species, including the Asiatic elephant, sloth bear, four-horned antelope, and mouse deer, along with 138 bird species.
To protect these habitats, the Court imposed a strict prohibition on mining inside the sanctuary and within a 1 km buffer zone.
Protecting Tribal Rights
The forest is home to the Ho, Munda, Oraon, and other Adivasi communities whose livelihoods and cultural identity depend on forest-based resources. The Court directed that no individual or community forest rights should be harmed during the sanctuary declaration.
Since the region falls under the Fifth Schedule, it is governed by PESA, which grants Gram Sabhas the authority to manage natural resources and protect tribal interests. This strengthens both conservation and social justice.
Wider Implications
Conservationists consider the ruling a major step forward, especially after earlier attempts to propose a reduced protected area. With the enforcement of the 1968 boundaries, stronger legal protection is expected for wildlife and forest landscapes.
The order is also a reaffirmation of traditional Adivasi stewardship, acknowledging that long-term conservation succeeds only when local communities remain central to decision-making.
Static GK Facts
Static GK fact: The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) came into force in 1996 to ensure self-governance in tribal areas listed under the Fifth Schedule.
Static GK fact: Scheduled Areas are regions with significant tribal populations where special protections are provided for their land and resource rights.
Static GK fact: Sal (Shorea robusta) forests are among India’s most widespread hardwood forests and play a crucial role in carbon storage and monsoon ecology.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Supreme Court Directs Wildlife Status for Saranda Forest:
| Topic | Detail |
| Order by | Supreme Court of India |
| Mandate | Notify 31,468.25 hectares as a Wildlife Sanctuary within 90 days |
| Original status | Declared Game Sanctuary in 1968 under Bihar |
| Forest type | Sal-dominated ecosystem |
| Key fauna | Asiatic elephant, sloth bear, four-horned antelope, mouse deer |
| Bird species | 138 documented species |
| Mining | Banned inside sanctuary and within 1 km buffer |
| Tribal groups | Ho, Munda, Oraon communities |
| Legal framework | Fifth Schedule and PESA governance |
| Conservation outcome | Stronger habitat protection and community rights |
