'Ensure That Elephants Held In Captivity By Temples Are Treated In A Humane & Dignified Manner': Madras High Court To Authorities

The Madras High Court on Tuesday (April 27) appealed to the relevant authorities to ensure that the elephants held in captivity by the various temples are treated in a humane and dignified manner, are provided sufficient food and water and shelter from the heat, and not otherwise beaten or mistreated in any manner or form.

The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy was presiding over a PIL filed by one Rangarajan Narasimhan, concerning temple elephants and other elephants owned by private individuals.

The Court noted that there were two aspects to the present matter:-

• Treatment of the elephants in captivity, particularly in several temples in the State.
• Desirable prohibition of the wonderful animal being domesticated or used as a beast of burden any further

The Petitioner submitted that two elephants by the names of Andal and Lakshmi at the Srirangam Temple were without mahouts. Though the State didn't admit the position, however, the Court remarked,

"It has to be immediately looked into whether the two elephants are interacting with any person who is attending to them, since elephants are known to be attached to individuals and even emotional to some extent."

Further, asking the relevant authorities to ensure that the elephants are treated in a humane and dignified manner, the Court also remarked that they should be provided with sufficient food and water and shelter from the heat and not otherwise beaten or mistreated in any manner or form.

Importantly, the petitioner submitted that the elephants in captivity should be treated in accordance with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Captive Elephant (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2001.

Noting this submission, the Court remarked,

"Since such provisions have been put in place under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, it is necessary that the State, through officials of the Forest Department, in conjunction with officials of the HR & CE Department, reports on the compliance of such rules at every temple site with any captive elephant.

Such a report has been directed to be filed when the matter appears next on June 8.

Case Title: Rangarajan Narasimhan v. Chief Secretary & Ors.

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