SC's order provides relief to Kerala elephants

Thrissur: People feeding Elephants at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, Kerala on occasion of the start of Malayalam month Karkkidakam on Friday. PTI Photo(PTI7_17_2015_000175B)

The Supreme Court has ordered temple devaswoms in Kerala to register with district committees the number of elephants used in festivals. The committee has been set up under the Captive Elephants Management and Maintenance Rules of 2002.

The devaswoms have been told to register with the district committees within six weeks. The Supreme Court added that the onus is on festival managers, State and district committees, and private owners to see that the elephants were not treated with cruelty.

Any violation would lead to criminal prosecution, the SC said. The SC also asked the State's Chief Wildlife Warden to have captive elephants in the State accounted for by using data already available with him from issuing 'declaration of ownership' certificates under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.