
SC dismisses plea against HC order to rehabilitate elephant from Jain mutt in Kolhapur to Guj facility
Swasthishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sanstha, the mutt at Nandani in Karvir tehsil of Kolhapur, had filed the petition on July 22 and the same came up for a hearing on Monday before the apex court bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan.
The bench dismissed the petition, paving the way for the elephant's transfer to the Jamnagar facility amid a situation where the issue has struck an emotional chord with residents of Nandani, where the mutt is located.
"A full text of the SC order is expected to be uploaded on its website in due course of time," lawyer Anand Landge, who represented the petitioner, told TOI.
As news about the SC's dismissal reached Kolhapur, a team from Vantara, along with an animal ambulance, arrived at the Jain mutt at Nandani with forest and police officials.
Kolhapur's deputy conservator of forests Dhairyashil Patil said, "As per the Bombay HC judgment, the elephant is to be rehabilitated within two weeks.
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A transport permit has already been issued, and the medical and fitness test was conducted on the elephant. Police will lead the process for the safe exit of the elephant to Gujarat."
A sizable crowd of villagers gathered at the mutt amid a strong police bandobast to ensure against any untoward fallout. The head of the Jain mutt, Mathadhipati Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya, appealed to all the villagers to stay calm and follow the court's order.
The elephant was decorated before being worshipped and given a public farewell on Monday night.
The mutt manager, Sagar Sambhushete, said, "We told people, that the way they had welcomed the elephant to the mutt 34 years ago, we should give a grand send-off to her on Tuesday morning, but the police denied permission for such an event."
The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, India, had raised concerns that the elephant was used for various activities, forced into crowded situations while being controlled with ropes and 'ankush'. A heavy howdah would often be put on her back despite her foot rot and arthritic condition. She was transported to Telangana without the mandatory permissions under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, twice for Bonalu and Muharram processions.
A high-powered committee, after documenting the health conditions of the elephant, submitted a report in favour of the rehabilitation and the same was upheld by the high court.
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