NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has imposed a stay on the guidelines of the Kerala High Court in connection with the parading of elephants. A bench led by Justice B V Nagaratna clarified that elephant parading can be held following the rules. The Supreme Court’s observation is a great relief to the devaswoms. The court clarified this while considering the pleas of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswoms.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the devaswom committees argued that Thrissur Pooram is a tradition that has been going on for 250 years and that the Pooram and other events are organized as per all the rules. Thrissur Pooram and other events have not given rise to any other complaints. Sibal informed the court that the high court order is impractical in such a situation. Moreover, Kapil Sibal mainly clarified in his argument that the Pooram is a major ritual event on the UNESCO list. Justice Nagarathna then responded that the high court order seemed impractical. The Supreme Court has sent notices to elephant owners and the state government in this regard.
The animal lovers’ organization had approached the court with a caveat plea. They argued that the elephant parade was not following the rules and incidents of elephants running amok, had been reported in many places and that there was a threat to life.
However, Kapil Sibal argued that the Poorams were being held as per all the rules and that the devaswoms would be responsible for any lapse.
Justice Nagaratna observed that the court's intention was to combine tradition and animal protection. The Supreme Court made it clear that it could not issue an order in a vacuum and that the high court order did not seem to be practical. Following that, notices were sent to the parties.