Gauhati High Court Orders Report on Rehabilitation of Elephants from Tamil Nadu Temples

High Court Seeks Report on Elephant Rehabilitation

Guwahati, Sept 1: The Gauhati High Court has requested a report from the High-Powered Committee established by the Supreme Court regarding the rehabilitation of nine elephants from Assam that are currently held in Tamil Nadu temples.

This directive was issued by Justice Devashis Baruah in response to a petition submitted by the Assam government in September 2022, which sought the release of an elephant named Joymala after public outcry arose from video footage showing her being severely mistreated.

Originally leased for three years to the Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil temple in Tamil Nadu in 2011, Joymala remains in the temple's custody. PETA India, which has been included as a respondent in this case, has advocated for her rehabilitation to a sanctuary where she can live freely and socialize with other elephants.

PETA India has also requested that the Gauhati High Court refer the case to the High-Powered Committee, an expert body led by (retd.) Justice Deepak Verma, tasked with addressing matters related to the ownership, transfer, and rehabilitation of captive elephants. The committee has also been asked to consider the cases of eight other elephants from Assam, whose temporary transfers to Tamil Nadu have also expired.

Furthermore, the Gauhati High Court has instructed the Tamil Nadu government to conduct monthly inspections of the facilities housing the nine elephants. Until the High-Powered Committee reaches a final decision, the court has mandated the seizure and rehabilitation of any elephants that are found to be lacking in nutrition, medical care, or other essential services.

The case gained attention after reports of Joymala's abuse surfaced in the media, prompting PETA India to bring the issue to light. The court has directed the High-Powered Committee to allow PETA India to present its perspective on the matter.