NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has stayed the Kerala High Court order that had banned the transportation of local elephants from other states to Kerala. The action of a bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagaratna and Satish Chandra Sharma was taken on a petition filed by the Mavelikkara Vasoorimala Bhagavathy Temple.

The temple's attempt to bring an elephant named Rajkumar from Tripura was in limbo due to the High Court order. The High Court's interim order was on a petition filed by the organization 'Walking Eye Foundation for Animal Advocacy'. The petition pointed out that 154 local elephants have died in the past 7 years.

Although Tripura has given permission to bring the local elephant, the High Court order was an obstacle, a point asserted by advocates K. Parameshwar and A. Karthik. The Supreme Court observed how the High Court could pass such an order without hearing the parties. It also ordered that notices be sent to the opposing parties, including the Central and State governments. The matter will be considered again on April 15.