GUWAHATI: Return of the leased elephants to Assam including temple elephant Joymala by Tamil Nadu has become a bone of contention between Assam and Tamil Nadu after the latter, on Thursday, refused to comply with a request by Assam.
In reply to a petition filed by the Assam government, the Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court that it will not return the leased elephants.
Assam had filed a petition in Gauhati High Court here after the Tamil Nadu government refused to let the forest department team from Assam, which went to the Southern state to bring back Joymala, to examine the abused elephant.
A major hurdle on the issue has been the fact that the temples are with private entities, especially temple managements in Tamil Nadu.
Joymala has been making waves on social media after People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) uploaded a video of the hapless elephant being tortured by its keepers in a temple in Tamil Nadu.
The latest development occurred a day after the Assam government moved the Gauhati High Court and sought a direction to bring back the elephants leased from Assam, especially tortured temple elephant Joymala.
However, the Tamil Nadu government denied these accusations and Ministry of Environment and Forest endorsed Tamil Nadu's claim that Joymala is doing well.
The Ministry took to Twitter, saying, "Several disturbing videos of Joyamala are being circulated on social media recently, but these videos are old. The latest inspection report issued on the matter shows that the elephant is doing well now and is in healthy condition. The present team taking good care of Joymala."
Meanwhile, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) of Assam MK Yadava said that Tamil Nadu, in a letter, admitted that Joymala was tortured but her health is now fine.
The Assam government claims it had leased nine elephants, including Joymala, to Tamil Nadu several years back. There have, however, been allegations that the process of lease is not all above board.
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