HC gives directions to authorities on captive animals

The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to look into the aspect of inserting a chip on captive elephants to monitor them through the scanners.
The direction was given by the bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan on a PIL by one Radha Rajan yesterday seeking a direction to the government to formulate a comprehensive scheme for the upkeep of animals donated to temples.
Satish Paraseran, the counsel for the petitioner sought a direction from the bench to the Wild Life Warden for complying with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
"We are of the view that there can be no second view on this issue as the provisions have to be complied with in letter and spirit and the Wild life Warden will have to take due care of the same."

It was brought to the notice of the bench that though chip is inserted on some captive elephants to monitor them, there are apparently no chip scanners.
When the bench was told that at times when an elephant passes away, the chip is removed and put in another elephant, the bench, said this aspect will also be looked into by the authorities.

The PIL sought a direction from the court for formation of a monitoring committee to supervise implementation of the scheme with regard to the cows and elephants donated to various temples and mutts.
Highlighting the issue of goshalas which house cows donated to temples, the PIL said cows and calves were severely malnourished, and carcasses were buried in temple premises.

Cows are made to suffer due proper care and inefficiency of authorities, it contended that neglect of duty to protect animals was also cruelty.
The counsel, while referring to the death of three temple elephants in the recent past, also submitted that no post mortem was done on them and prayed the court to form a committee for monitoring the animals donated to the temples.
Additional Advocate General P H Arvind Pandiyan submitted that the State Level Committee has been formed as per a July 20 Government Order.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing to October seven.