Organisers of events and festivities engaging elephants will face contempt of court action if the captive pachyderms are treated cruelly. Enforcing this rule strictly across the country, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and Animal Welfare Board to ensure that no elephant is “treated or meted with cruelty” during their use in religious festivals and other activities of festivities.
A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and PC Pant sought replies of Centre and States within four weeks on an application filed by Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. It alleged that the number of elephants kept captive by private persons and religious institutions is over 3,000 and they are treated inhumanly. Earlier, the court had issued notices to the Centre, the Animal Welfare Board of India and nine States on the PIl seeking steps for protection and welfare of elephants held in captivity including a ban on their sale, gifting and use in religious festivals.