PIL filed against Transportation of elephants to Jagannath Temple in High Court

June 21: After PETA India, the leading animal rights organization raised serious questions about Assam Forest Department’s decision to transport four elephants from Assam to Ahmedabad, now its turn of several PIL’s being filed in this connection. A Guwahat-based NGO, Avinava Prayash, represented by its Secretary, Urmi Mala Das and Nandini Baruah, founder of ‘Purr Paws Foundation’, filed a PIL under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, challenging the action of Assam Forest Department to transport four elephants amidst the heat wave in North India.

The 4 elephants would be taken by train to take part in Rath Yatra of Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad. Transporting the elephants in railway wagons in the prevailing heat-wave conditions in North India, would subject the animals to extreme stress, pain and cruelty and they may not survive the long journey of 3,106 kms, the petition said. The Petitioners have contended that the decision of the Assam Forest Department is in violation of the relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and relevant orders of the Supreme Court in this regard.

Again, an Overseas Citizen of India, Sangita Iyer has also filed an instant writ-petition at the Gauhati High Court with the prayer to immediately stop the transportation of the four juvenile elephants from Assam to the Jagannath Temple of Ahmedabad.