Supreme Court Bans Tourism and Private Vehicles on Andaman Trunk Road

Supreme Court Bans Tourism and Private Vehicles on Andaman Trunk Road

The Supreme Court has directed that absolutely no tourists and private individuals are to be permitted to enter the Buffer Zone and only Government Officers and vehicles that supply essential commodities/goods/provisions to the settlers/inhabitants within the Reserve/Buffer Zone may be permitted to ply on the Andaman Trunk Road till 26 Feb 2013, the next date of hearing.

The Jarawa Buffer Zone matter was listed before the Bench comprising Hon’ble Mr. Justice Singhvi and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Gokhale, today, where the Petitioners were represented by the Additional Solicitor General, alongwith an Officer of the Andaman administration, as per the direction given by the Court on 17 January 2013.

The Petitioners furnished a copy of the Notification dated 17 January 2013 along with a Map depicting the Reserved Area and Buffer Zone.

The Court has directed the Petitioners to file an Affidavit giving details of the inhabitants and settlements in the areas that have been enumerated in the Schedule to the notification dated 17 January 2013, which are claimed to be “revenue villages”, within 2 weeks from today.

 The matter has been re-notified on 26 February 2013.