The Gauhati High Court has declined to issue an order stopping the relocation of five domesticated elephants from Assam to temples in Tamil Nadu. The matter came up on a writ petition seeking to block the transfer.
A division bench comprising Justices Asutosh Kumar and Arun Dev Choudhury observed that there was no clear ground, at this stage, to prevent the elephants from being moved to another state. The petitioner argued that an elephant earlier shifted to Tamil Nadu had remained there beyond the permitted period and raised concerns about possible mistreatment of elephants sent to temples.
The bench said a restraining order could not be passed unless it was shown that the required permissions for the transfer had not been obtained. Noting that the elephants had been handed over to private custody, the court stressed the need to ensure their health and that they were not being used for any other activities.
The hearing has been adjourned, and the Assam Additional Advocate General has been asked to respond at the next listing. The case is scheduled to be heard again on October 15.
Earlier, a five-year-old elephant named Durga from Manas National Park in Assam was taken to Tamil Nadu on September 7, as per the petition’s reference.
