Registration made mandatory for elephants

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Tuesday ordered making mandatory registration for elephants used in processions and rituals in temples. As per wildlife act, district level monitoring panels’ led by chief wildlife ward should register the elephants, the court said while considering a plea on the procession of elephants in festivals.

The court asked the owners to collect their certificates after completing the registration in six weeks. It should be produced when officials ask for it. The government and the owners should assure that the elephants used in temples are not harassed. The division bench said that if the elephants are found harassed, action would be taken against the guilty.

The state government told the Supreme Court that using of elephants in temple rituals is a tradition followed from times and that it should not be controlled.

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