Published: November 14, 2025, 7:15 PM IST

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a Madras High Court order that had exempted pilgrims and local residents from paying entry fees to access Agasthiyar Falls and adjoining temples located within the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in Tamil Nadu. The decision comes amid concerns over conservation, administrative clarity, and the regulation of human activity within a critical tiger habitat.

The KMTR, situated in the southern Western Ghats across Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, is a protected area of high ecological significance. It spans 895 square kilometres and is designated as a core tiger habitat under the Wildlife Protection Act. Access to the reserve is strictly regulated to ensure the safety of both wildlife and visitors, as well as to prevent encroachment, poaching, and habitat degradation.

A bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Vijay Bishnoi heard submissions from senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, representing the Principal Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Environment and Forest Department. The advocate challenged the June 3 order of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, arguing that the exemption lacked legal clarity and had been issued without adequate consideration of environmental and administrative implications.

“The high court directed that no entry fee shall be collected from pilgrims and local residents accessing Agasthiyar Falls and adjacent temples within KMTR without defining who qualifies as a ‘local resident,’” the plea noted. It warned that such an order effectively granted unrestricted access to approximately 20 lakh people living in nearby villages and towns, potentially undermining conservation efforts and administrative control over the tiger reserve.

The Supreme Court issued an ad-interim stay on the Madras High Court order and issued notice to the sole respondent, Vikramasingapuram Anaithu Samuthaya Peraval, making the matter returnable in three weeks. Chief Justice Gavai emphasised the need to examine the implications of the high court’s ruling before allowing unrestricted access to the core tiger habitat.

The plea filed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, through advocate Purnima Krishna, contended that the high court order was legally untenable and created administrative chaos. The department highlighted that the levy of entry fees at the Papanasam forest checkpost is not a tax but a regulatory measure intended to monitor visitor ingress, prevent poaching, protect the habitat, and ensure eco-tourism management.

According to the department, the collection of fees is conducted under a government order dated February 8, 2018, and in accordance with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Guidelines for Tourism in and Around Tiger Reserves issued on October 15, 2012. These measures are part of a broader effort to regulate human activity in tiger reserves, ensuring that tourism and religious visits do not compromise wildlife protection or ecological integrity.

Agasthiyar Falls and the surrounding temples, located within the core zone of KMTR, are areas where access is particularly sensitive. Core zones in tiger reserves are subject to strict control under the Wildlife Protection Act, and unrestricted human presence can disturb wildlife, damage fragile ecosystems, and increase the risk of poaching and habitat degradation. The Forest Department stressed that the high court order, if implemented without clear definitions or regulatory oversight, could have severe consequences for conservation efforts in the reserve.

The case underscores the ongoing tension between conservation imperatives and public access to natural and religious sites. While pilgrim and local access to sacred sites is culturally significant, environmental authorities have highlighted the need for controlled entry to ensure both human safety and the protection of endangered species, including tigers.

The Supreme Court’s stay provides temporary relief to the Forest Department and allows authorities to continue implementing existing regulations while the matter is examined in detail. Observers note that the final decision will need to balance environmental protection, legal compliance, and public interest, potentially setting a precedent for access management in other tiger reserves and protected areas across India.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s intervention in the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve case highlights the critical importance of regulated access to sensitive wildlife habitats. By staying the Madras High Court’s order, the apex court has allowed forest authorities to maintain control over ingress and ensure that conservation measures are not compromised, while also providing time to assess how exemptions for local residents and pilgrims can be reconciled with wildlife protection and administrative oversight.