Permission to parade 11 elephants at temple fest kicks up a row

Elephant Monitoring Committee says decision is in violation of court directives

The decision to permit 11 elephants to be paraded at the festival of Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, Thripunithura, has kicked up a debate with objections being raised by a member of the Elephant Monitoring Committee.

A.B. Babu, a member of the committee, wrote to Ernakulam District Collector Jafer Malik, who heads the monitoring committee, that the decision was in violation of the guidelines issued by the Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court. Mr. Babu also said that the decision amounted to contempt of court.

A meeting of the Elephant Monitoring Committee, which was chaired by the District Collector on November 22, had decided not to allow the request of the elephant owners to increase the number of elephants to be paraded in the festival.