HC questions bringing elephants where there are fireworks; Devaswom and govt should clarify

KOCHI: The High Court questioned whether elephants should be used in processions where fireworks are set off. The fact that elephants cannot remain in such areas without being tied up indicates that the noise greatly disturbs them. Even at a distance of a hundred meters, the sound of fireworks can agitate elephants.

A division bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice S. Muralikrishna directed the government and Guruvayur Devaswom to clarify their stand on this matter. The court's remark followed a report submitted by the Guruvayur Devaswom veterinary surgeon, pointing out that if elephants are not kept tied up at places where fireworks are held, they may run away in fear.

The report was submitted on the incident in which three people were killed after two elephants ran away during fireworks at the Koyilandy Manakulangara temple. The elephants Gokul and Peethambaran, which were taken from Punnathur Fort in Guruvayur, ran amok. The elephants were also injured. The court was considering a petition filed by Sangeetha Iyer, president of the Asian Elephant Society, seeking redressal of the dilapidated condition of the Punnathur Elephant Fort in Guruvayur.

No ownership certificate

Devaswom said that the elephant named Peethambaran has insurance but does not have an ownership certificate. The application is under consideration by the Forest Department. There are 10 elephants in Punnathur Fort that do not have an ownership certificate. The court asked how the elephants without it are being taken out and also directed the parties to hold a detailed argument regarding the legal issues in this.

The elephants that ran amok were outside the fort most of the day in February. No one is responsible for the food of the elephants taken for the procession. It is not sufficient to assign only the lorry driver and the mahout for this. The list of feed given should be recorded accurately in the register.

The Devaswom informed that people treat elephants as VIPs at festival venues and feed them a lot. The court said that this practice is also unacceptable. The authorities should also take a stand on the feeding register of elephants. Detailed debates will happen regarding this on March 4 regarding this plea.