Bombay High Court Says Limiting Compensation for Damage by only Certain Wild Animals Violates Article 14
The Bombay High Court recently held that restricting compensation for crop and tree damage only to certain specified wild animals is arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.
The Court observed that once parrots are recognised as “wild animals” under the Wildlife Protection Act, farmers cannot be denied compensation merely because birds are excluded from government compensation schemes.
The case arose after a farmer sought compensation for extensive damage caused to his pomegranate crop by parrots near a wildlife sanctuary.
Holding such exclusion to be irrational, the High Court directed the Maharashtra Government to compensate the farmer for the losses suffered.
