Incursion Of Wild Elephants In Human Settlements: Kerala High Court Calls For State's Report On Proposed Action

Taking note of a recent intrusion by a herd of wild elephants into human settlements in the Palakkad district, the Kerala High Court has directed the State to file a report regarding the action proposed to be taken to prevent such episodes in the future.

A Division Bench of Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice P Gopinath was adjudicating upon a suo motu PIL in the wake of the brutal killing of a dog named Bruno earlier this year, the video of which had done its rounds on social media.

The incident of a herd of wild elephants trespassing an under-construction IIT campus in the Palakkad district was brought to the notice of the Court by the amici curiae in the matter.

Taking note of the same, the Court remarked,

"The report to be filed shall indicate the steps that are proposed to be taken by the State and its agencies for preventing such incidents in future."

Over the course of three months, the Bench has examined several incidents of cruelty meted out on animals, including a gruesome report of hundreds of stray dogs poisoned to death in the Ernakulam district. It had also called for report on the incident wherein a lady allegedly tried to burn a street dog and its five puppies.

In the Bruno matter, the local body has been directed to report on the steps implemented to ensure necessary infrastructure for carrying out Animal Birth Control Programmes for animals in the Thrikkakkara Municipality area.

Regarding the infrastructural deficiencies noticed in one of the facilities of the Kochi Municipal Corporation, Advocate K.Janardhana Shenoy appearing on behalf of the Corporation submitted that immediate repair works to the building, the operation theatre, kennels, electrical installations, air conditioning equipment, water tank, washing machine and the diesel generating set will be undertaken on urgent basis so as to complete the same positively by 08.10.2021.

It is further undertaken that by the said date the approach road to the said facility will also be made motorable.

The Kochi Municipal Corporation similarly undertook to immediately commence the licensing procedure for pet dogs within the limits of the Kochi Municipal Corporation.

During the proceedings, the State submitted that the State Animal Welfare Board has already commenced functioning and its website has become operational and ready for access by the citizenry.

However, Additional Advocate General Asok M. Cherian informed the Bench that the Animal Welfare Board of India was yet to communicate its nominees to the state board and on receiving information from them, those nominees will also be inducted.

"Taking note of the above, we direct the Animal Welfare Board of India to immediately nominate two members to the State Animal Welfare Board. The nomination shall be effected within two weeks,"

The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 1st.

Case Title: In Re Bruno v. Union of India

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