Gauhati High Court denies halt on elephant transfer to Tamil Nadu

The Gauhati High Court has declined to issue an immediate restraint order to halt the transfer of five privately owned captive elephants from Assam to temples in Tamil Nadu. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury observed that no current law prohibits such transfers, provided that all necessary statutory clearances are obtained.

The court is currently considering an interlocutory application that raises concerns regarding the potential ill-treatment of the animals during and after transport. The applicant cited a previous case involving an elephant named ‘Joymala’ to support concerns about animal welfare.

While refusing to block the transfer at this stage, the court has directed the Assam government to file a detailed affidavit addressing the application. The court emphasized the importance of maintaining the health and welfare of the elephants and will review the matter further once the government responds.