Latest news with #Mahadevi
Time of India
7 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
SC dismisses plea against HC order to rehabilitate elephant from Jain mutt in Kolhapur to Guj facility
Kolhapur: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a writ petition by a Jain mutt in Kolhapur, challenging the Bombay high court's July 16 judgment that directed rehabilitation of a 36-year-old elephant 'Mahadevi alias Madhuri' from the mutt to the Vantara's Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust at Jamnagar in Gujarat. 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emergency Generators in San Antonio: (Prices May Surprise You) Emergency Generator | Search Ads Search Now Undo 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.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Residents, devotees hold march to keep elephant in Nandani village of dist
Kolhapur: Shopowners kept their businesses shut in Nandani village on Friday while residents took out a silent march demanding that their beloved Madhuri should remain in Swastishree Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sansthan Mutt. Madhuri or Mahadevi is a 36-year-old elephant. Bombay High Court recently ordered rehabilitation of the elephant to Vantara's Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust at Jamnagar, Gujarat, citing that the pachyderm's well-being must come before religious customs. After this decision, the Jain Mutt filed a petition in the Supreme Court. The hearing on this matter will be on July 28 in the Supreme Court. The silent march, comprising nearly 7,000 people, started from the village chowk and converged at Swastishree Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami Sansthan Mutt. The villagers displayed placards which said, "The fight is for the existence of Mahadevi, we will fight peacefully till the end, our elephant is our tradition." Former MP Raju Shetti, Shirol MLA Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar, Anil Madnaik, member of the mutt, Sagar Sambhushete, the manager of the mutt, also participated in the silent march. Former MP Raju Shetti said, "Nandani Mutt is 1,200 years old, and devotees from Maharashtra and Karnataka visit here. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo People from other religions also visit the Mutt. Just because someone wants a tamed elephant, shifting this elephant by using power is not good. The elephant is taken proper care of here. Although the matter is before the court, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should pay attention to this issue, keeping in mind the religious sentiments of the villagers and devotees." MLC Satej Patil, through his official Twitter account, tweeted, "The elephant holds special significance in the Panchakalyan ritual of non-violent and animal-loving Jain community. The govt should intervene and find a suitable solution to this to maintain the respect and dignity of the religious sentiments of the Jain community."
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Jain math moves SC against high court order on elephant
Kolhapur: The Jain math in Nandani (Kolhapur) has appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn a Bombay high court ruling that ordered their 36-year-old elephant, Mahadevi, to be moved to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Gujarat's Jamnagar. The high court had prioritized Mahadevi's welfare over religious customs. "In the given circumstances of conflict between the rights of an elephant and the rights of petitioner (math) to use the elephant in the discharge of its religious activities, priority must be given to the elephant's welfare," the court order said. PETA India had raised concerns about Mahadevi's well-being, citing her use in crowded events, control with weapons, and the placement of a heavy howdah despite her foot rot and arthritis. She was also reportedly transported to Telangana twice without the required permits under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A high-powered committee formed by the court to investigate the matter examined the elephant in June and Nov 2024 and submitted a report in favour of the rehabilitation of the elephant. The Bombay high court upheld the high-powered committee's report in their ruling. Nearly 743 Jain temples from Maharashtra and Karnataka are associated with this math. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Storage running out on your Mac? Space Lens will show you why MacPaw Read More Undo Sagar Sambhushete, manager of the math, said, "The math has existed for the last 1,300 years and has a long tradition of owning elephants. The math took possession of this elephant 33 years ago after taking necessary permissions. We have our faith and emotions attached to the elephant." The math also requested MLC Satej Patil to put forward this issue in the Legislative Council. MLC Satej Patil, speaking regarding the elephant, said, "Instead of hurting the religious sentiments of the people, the govt should trap the elephants causing menace to farmers in Ajara, Gadhinglaj, and Chandgad tehsil and shift them to Vantara. The govt should prepare guidelines on how to take care of elephants in Jain temples. Will the govt break a 200-year-old tradition by shifting the elephant?"
India.com
21-07-2025
- General
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani gets a new guest, it will live in...
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's son Anant Ambani- File image New guest has arrived at Anant Ambani's house: In a significant development for the Ambani family and more specifically Anant Ambani, the Bombay High Court approved the relocation of Mahadevi, an ailing elephant currently in Kolhapur, to the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust, a specialised elephant care centre in Jamnagar. Notably, the Radhe Krishna Elephant Welfare Trust, supported by Anant Ambani's Vantara initiative, is known for its dedicated care, veterinary expertise, and expansive natural enclosures. The specialised elephant care centre of Anant Ambani has been notably designed to offer long-term rehabilitation. As per a report by news agency ANI, the move comes in response to concerns raised over her health and overall well-being. Who's the new guest at Anant Ambani's Vantara? Reports presented to the court indicated that Mahadevi was suffering from severe injuries and needed a better environment to heal and thrive. After reviewing her condition and the available facilities, the High Court concluded that her best chance at healing lies in a sanctuary purpose-built for elephant care. How Mahadevi was transferred to Anant Ambani's Vantara? Invoking the parens patriae principle to safeguard the rights of the 'voiceless and hapless Mahadevi', in its ruling, the court said, 'We have considered and chosen the survival of the elephant and its right to quality life, over and above the rights of men to use the elephant.' The panel also quoted the words of Lawrence Anthony from his book 'The Elephant Whisperer' to support the argument for better treatment of the elephants. This decision marks a compassionate step toward recognising the emotional and physical needs of animals who cannot voice their suffering. With this transfer, Mahadevi is expected to receive focused treatment and the peaceful surroundings essential for her recovery. The Jamnagar-based sanctuary offers a robust ecosystem of veterinary staff, natural foraging space, and continuous care, ensuring elephants like Mahadevi are given a second chance at a dignified, comfortable life. (With inputs from agencies)
Time of India
18-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
HC orders transfer of ‘distressed' Kolhapur tusker to Gujarat trust; math plans to move SC
Mumbai/Kolhapur: Giving priority to animal welfare over the right to use them in religious rites, Bombay high court has directed a Jain math in Kolhapur to transfer their elephant, Mahadevi, to a temple trust in Jamnagar, Gujarat, within two weeks. Officials from the Jain math at Nandani stated that Mahadevi was under their care since 1992. Devotees worship the elephant, and the math would appeal to the Supreme Court to allow them to keep Mahadevi, citing emotional and spiritual connections, the officials said. "…we have considered and chosen the survival of the elephant and its right to quality life, over and above the rights of men to use the elephant for religious rites…This court has duty under the doctrine parens patriae to secure the rights of the voiceless and hapless Mahadevi," said the court, dismissing a petition by the Jain math who owned Mahadevi since 1992. The math had challenged a high-power committee's orders directing Mahadevi's transfer to Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar. The committee's order was based on a complaint by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that Mahadevi "is exhibiting signs of physical and psychological distress". The committee's report said Mahadevi suffered from decubital ulcerated wounds on her hip joints and right elbow joint and injuries to toenails and back. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo The judges said the petitioner's argument that the elephant's condition is now improving is "quite counter-productive" and "too little too late" as it establishes that she suffered injuries while under the "care and custody" of the math. The HC, through the order, also requested the chief wildlife warden of Maharashtra to issue a transport permit, and the chief wildlife warden of Gujarat to issue a no-objection certificate, if necessary, to effect the said transfer. Peta India director of advocacy projects Khushboo Gupta said, "No living being deserves isolation, chaining and being controlled with weapons. Peta India is grateful to Bombay HC for granting Mahadevi an opportunity to live the rest of her life safe and in the company of other elephants, and urges the organisers of religious ceremonies to opt for life-size robotic elephants instead."
