HC takes exception to poor upkeep of elephants

The Madras High Court has taken exception to the recent death of three temple tuskers, saying maintenance of the pachyderms should be handed over to the Animal Welfare Board of India(AWBI) instead of unqualfied persons handling the task.
"We want to emphasize that AWBI should be entrusted with the task (of maintaining temple elephants) rather than unqualified persons doing it...Adequate financial provisions should be made for deployment of competent people by the AWBI," the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam, said.
A PIL was filed by Radha Rajan of Kalakshetra colony seeking a direction to government to formulate a comprehensive scheme for the upkeep of animals donated to temples.

Counsel for Radha Rajan, Sathish Parasaran took exception to the photos on maintenance of elephants submitted by authorities and submitted "the practical reality is entirely different from what the photographs they have submitted to the court, show."
He submitted that all temples have only elephants, not qualified and trained people to maintain them.
On its part, AWBI said a problem was the absence of mahouts to look after temple elephants.

To this, the bench remarked, "It is painful. When the government is unable to concentrate on welfare of elephants, what is the necessity to have them at all?"
When government pleader STS Moorthy said the issue had been brought up for the first time, and that only one or two temples faced such a problem, the bench retorted, saying, "only one or two temples are maintained properly."

A set of photographs were submitted to the court as evidence by the authorities to prove that all was well with goshalas. But the bench observed that most pictures had been improved using photo shop technology.
"It appears that the ground realities in respect of goshalas are far removed from the picture painted before us. In a number of cases photoshop technology has been utilized to draw up a situation. This would give rise to contempt proceedings as it is an endeavor to mislead the court. We believe time has come when some firm action becomes necessary," warned the Bench.

Stating that it will be constrained to summon the Principal Secretary of the concerned department to court if necessary measures were not taken before the next date of hearing, the bench posted the matter for further hearing to September 29.