The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and other concerned authorities to halt the relocation of deer from the Deer Park located in the Hauz Khas area of New Delhi.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to the DDA’s horticulture director and other respondents, seeking their reply on a petition challenging the proposed transfer of the animals.

“The issue in these Special Leave Petitions pertains to the shifting of deer from Deer Park, Hauz Khas. Issue notice, returnable on May 16, 2025,” the bench stated in its April 30 order. “In the meantime, we restrain the respondents from relocating the existing deer. It is also clarified that the animals shall be properly cared for by the authorities.”

The court was acting on a plea filed by the New Delhi Nature Society, an environmental NGO, which raised concerns over the possible transfer of approximately 600 deer without adequate habitat evaluation, veterinary assessment, or protections for vulnerable groups such as pregnant deer and fawns.

The petition also alleged that three batches of deer had already been shifted to wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan in violation of wildlife protection laws and without following due procedure.