The Madras High Court has made it clear that forcing a temple elephant to bless people for a fee is nothing but begging and had observed that such exploitation of captive animals cannot be permitted.
Justice D. Krishnakumar has also directed the forest officials to ensure best possible atmosphere and health conditions for the captive animals and strict compliance of Rules.
The issue pertains to a plea moved by N. Sekar seeking direction to the forest department to issue transit licence for taking his elephant to Sree Varadharaja Perumal temple at Kancheepuram.
According to the petitioner, the licence was suspended after a Tamil daily carried a picture report that the elephant was being used for begging..
Claiming that the elephant was used to seek alms by its mahout and his assistant without his knowledge, the petitioner said that he had removed both from service.
When the plea came up for hearing, the judge said, “The court had been informed that elephants were used to bless devotees and receive money in return which was nothing but begging which violates the Tamil Nadu Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules 2011. The rule states that an elephant should not be taken to the streets and other places for begging or any other purpose.”
The judge then ordered the district forest officers to ensure that the Rules were strictly implemented in its true letter and spirit and asked the authorities to circulate the Rules in Tamil version to all the owners of captive elephants.
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