Frequent Elephant Attacks: Kerala High Court Directs Forest Department To Take Immediate Action

The Kerala High Court on Friday admitted a Public Interest Litigation filed by Vettampara Pourasamithy alleging frequent elephant attacks in the Malayatoor Forest areas.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly has directed the Forest Department to file a statement and produce documents on action taken in the matter.

"This is a serious situation, immediate action had to be taken", said the Court.

Advocate P.B. Sahasranaman appeared for the petitioner in the matter.

The primary submission of the petitioner was that the lack of boundary fencing and trenches as well as the complete failure of the electric fencing around the Malayattoor Forest area adversely affects the life of the people residing in these areas in the Ernakulam district.

Several elephants from the forest entered human settlement areas and destroyed the crops and structures, the petitioner told the Court.

It was further stated that sometimes these intrusions caused a serious threat to the life of the residents in the area.

The best practices prescribed for the protection of the life of people from elephant attacks were not properly implemented by the respondent, alleged the petitioners. It was thus  contended that people in the area, particularly women and children were frightened to step out after dark. 

The PIL thus seeks directions to make trenches or fencing to prevent the trespass of elephants in the revenue property.

Case Title: Vettampara Pourasamthy v. State of Kerala