Thread by @LawBeatInd

In batch of pleas along with one by activist Rangarajan Narasimhan over the alleged inhumane treatment of elephants kept in temples across the state of Tamil Nadu, Madras High Court orders Forest Dept to prepare catalogue of all captive elephants in TN.

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The court has directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to prepare the catalogue alongwith their video recordings.

The plea was being heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu.

Narasimhan has brought to the attention of the court that the elephants kept in captivity by the forest officials are being ill-treated at forest camps, away from public-view.

Sri Rangam Temple has proposed a concrete suggestion before the court that the temple has excess land close to the Cauvery river where the elephants can be housed in a forest like habitat and taken to temples only for ceremonial purposes.

Bench observed, “..time to re-think whether, in the light of the law in the country, elephants can be subjected to the ignominy of participating in temple celebrations or temple rituals and whether such activities are any better than elephants being used for begging on streets.”

Notably, the bench said, "at times religious sentiments must yield to reason and if at all the animal's point of view can be perceived, it may also be taken into consideration upon obtaining scientific and expert advice in such regard."

#TamilNadu #Temples #Elephants