<h3>Overview</h3>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court of India — apex judicial body that interprets the Constitution and settles disputes on matters of law and policy (GS1: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> has affirmed the relocation of spotted deer from the <span class="key-term" data-definition="A.N. Jha Deer Park — a protected forest in Hauz Khas, Delhi, housing a deer population that has exceeded its ecological carrying capacity (GS3: Environment)">A.N. Jha Deer Park</span> to tiger reserves in Rajasthan. The judgment accepts the recommendations of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Central Empowered Committee (CEC) — a specialised committee constituted by the government to oversee scientific wildlife translocation and related policy matters (GS3: Environment)">Central Empowered Committee</span> and issues detailed directions for future wildlife relocation across India.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>All recommendations of the CEC report are accepted.</li>
<li>Up to <strong>38 deer</strong> may be retained at the park, subject to approval by the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Central Zoo Authority (CZA) — statutory body that regulates zoos and wildlife parks, ensuring compliance with national and international standards (GS3: Environment)">Central Zoo Authority</span>.</li>
<li>The retained herd must maintain a sex ratio of <strong>15 males to 23 females</strong> and the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Delhi Development Authority (DDA) — statutory agency responsible for planning and development in Delhi, including management of public green spaces (GS2: Polity)">DDA</span> must upgrade infrastructure and staff.</li>
<li>The area of the park is declared a <strong>protected forest</strong> and its status cannot be altered.</li>
<li>The draft guidelines on animal translocation prepared by the CEC are to be examined by the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) — central ministry that formulates policies on environment, forests and climate change (GS3: Environment)">Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</span> and given statutory force within six months.</li>
<li>A compliance report is to be filed with the Court by <strong>19 January 2027</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>The case originated when an environmental NGO challenged the relocation of hundreds of deer to <span class="key-term" data-definition="Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve — a tiger reserve in Rajasthan earmarked to receive relocated deer to augment its prey base (GS3: Environment)">Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve</span> and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve — another Rajasthan reserve identified for deer translocation (GS3: Environment)">Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve</span>. The Delhi High Court had earlier allowed the move, provided the DDA retained a small number of deer. The Supreme Court, after a prio
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