rict Action Against Drunken Mahouts and Elephants Entering Temples: Minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar
Minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar stated that drunken mahouts and the elephants accompanying them should not be allowed inside temples, and strict action should be taken by the police in this regard. He also reiterated that elephant processions can be conducted as part of tradition.
According to the minister, the lack of expertise among mahouts is the main reason for elephants running amok. In many cases, elephants run out of fear rather than aggression. Many mahouts arrive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Therefore, breath analyzers should be used at temple festival grounds to check if alcohol has been consumed. He also emphasized that action should be taken against elephant enthusiasts who provide alcohol to mahouts.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has stayed the Kerala High Court Division Bench’s order to conduct a survey of domesticated elephants in the state. The Supreme Court’s action was in response to a petition filed by the Viswa Gajaseva Samiti against the High Court’s order. The High Court Division Bench had taken up the issue on its own while considering a petition related to the issue of stray dogs. The Supreme Court questioned how the matter of stray dogs led to concerns about the management of domesticated elephants.
The Supreme Court also observed that elephant processions are historically and culturally significant. It noted that the proceedings in the High Court seemed to be an attempt to put an end to the practice. Elephants are an integral part of human life, Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma observed.
