Court Dismisses Petition for Film Shooting in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Citing Previous Judgments and Government Orders
In a significant decision, the Kerala High Court has reaffirmed the ban on film shooting within Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks, and Tiger Reserves, citing previous legal precedents and government directives. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K. V. Jayakumar, delivered the judgment on 17th August 2026, in the case titled "Tharun Moorthi v. State of Kerala."
The petitioners, including Malayalam film director Tharun Moorthi, sought permission to shoot a new film titled "Athimanoharam" at locations within the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. Despite obtaining conditional approval from a respondent agency, the petitioners required additional permissions from relevant forest authorities.
Following a directive from the Court dated 13th August 2026, the Deputy Director of the Periyar Wildlife Division reviewed the petitioners' request. However, the request was denied in compliance with a Division Bench judgment from 2025 and a government order from the same year, prohibiting commercial film shooting in protected areas. These areas, being part of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, were deemed unsuitable for such activities, irrespective of their leasing to the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Contrastingly, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Ranni Forest Division permitted shooting at specific locations outside the protected zones, contingent on compliance with certain conditions, including payment of fees and agreement execution.
The Court concluded that the petitioners' writ petition was resolved, with no further actions necessary. However, the petitioners retain the right to challenge the Deputy Director's order if they choose to pursue the matter further.
This judgment underscores the judiciary's commitment to conserving wildlife sanctuaries and enforcing existing legal frameworks that prioritize environmental preservation over commercial interests.
Bottom Line :
Permission for film shooting in Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks or Tiger Reserves cannot be granted in view of earlier Division Bench judgment and government orders restricting such activities.
Statutory provision(s): Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Tharun Moorthi v. State of Kerala, (Kerala)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2962560
